KUALA LUMPUR: The absence of a third of Pakatan members of parliament from Monday’s debate on a law reviving detention without trial is a blatant betrayal of the people’s trust, said non-governmental organisation Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) today.
SAMM national coordinator Roslee Mohd Sharif said their absence was inexcusable, as this meant the MPs were not committed in carrying out their duties and represent their voters on crucial issues.
“This is not the first time Pakatan MPs have disappeared from the Dewan Rakyat. During the last term, Pakatan MPs were also absent when Parliament was tabling the Kampung Baru Development Bill,” he said in a statement.
Roslee was commenting on the Prevention of Terrorism Bill (Pota) 2015, which was passed without amendment at the Dewan Rakyat at about 2.25am on Monday after a 12-hour debate.
The bill was passed after the ninth bloc voting, with the final voting favouring the government when 79 Barisan Nasional MPs agreeing on the bill while 60 from Pakatan disagreed.
Pakatan have 88 seats in Parliament (excluding the now-vacant Permatang Pauh seat). Eleven MPs each from PKR and Pas were absent, while all but two DAP MPs were in attendance.
“Only 64 Pakatan MPs were around when the Bill was read out of the second time. By the time it was read out for the third time, only 60 MPs remained,” Roslee said, adding that the excuses given by the MPs to explain their absence were unacceptable.
Yesterday, PKR’s Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen was quoted as saying that Pota would still be passed as BN held the majority in Parliament.
Wong, who was present during the tabling of the bill, had said the outcome would have remained the same even if Pakatan’s 88 MPs attended Parliament on Monday.
“This is a very weak and overly-used excuse. SAMM and the people know which side holds the majority, but a full attendance (by Pakatan) would have proved the honest and sincerity of the Pakatan MPs.
“No one said Pota stood a chance of being rejected. What the people wanted to see is Pakatan MPs showing a good example. You are paid an allowance to attend Parliament, not skip it,” Roslee stressed.
Roslee also urged the people to refrain from re-electing MPs who were found to have failed to carry out their responsibilities.
“Don’t be arrogant just because the people chose you to sit in the Dewan Rakyat. Do not fool the people with weak excuses to cover up your mistakes,” he said.