KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat this year has been a vibrant stage for significant legislative milestones, fiery debates and unforeseen political drama.
From groundbreaking amendments to the Constitution addressing citizenship rights to critical legislation targeting bullying and online safety, 2024 has underscored Parliament's commitment to shaping a more equitable and secure Malaysia.
The political arena within the Dewan Rakyat also saw dramatic twists, with lawmakers crossing party lines, contentious suspensions and intense debates over transparency and accountability.
The New Sunday Times takes a quick look at some of the most eventful moments in the Dewan Rakyat over the past 12 months.
Key legislation
In a significant development within the Dewan Rakyat, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill was unanimously passed, introducing pivotal changes to citizenship laws.
This legislative move marks a historic shift in the recognition of citizenship rights, particularly concerning children born abroad to Malaysian mothers.
The Dewan Rakyat passed two key legislation to address the issue of bullying. Proposed by Putrajaya, the legislation was introduced in honour of cyberbullying victim and influencer Rajeswary Appahu, known as Esha, who took her life following a torrent of online abuse.
The House also gave its approval to the Online Safety Bill, which would require social media platform providers to comply with three main responsibilities — ensuring platform safety, protecting children under 13 years old, and restricting access to harmful content.
Issues of interest
This year, several issues of public interest took centre stage after being raised by members of parliament (MPs). These included concerns surrounding the privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), where opposition MPs submitted an emergency motion calling for the government to retract its decision to sell part of MAHB shares to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
The matter was also addressed in a special session by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, who reiterated that all Malaysian airports will remain government assets, with MAHB continuing to serve as the operator and manager.
The issue of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB) also became a focal point of discussion, with various concerns raised regarding the organisation's activities and their implications.
In response, the Home Ministry, the Religious Affairs Ministry, and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry presented their findings on the matter in the House.
The Lower House also saw the tabling of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report concerning the handling of matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
Long suspension
A session in the Dewan Rakyat would not be complete without the dramatic spectacle of a suspension. This year, opposition lawmaker Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Perikatan Nasional-Machang), in the second half of 2024, was suspended for six months after revealing the existence of a poison pen letter alleging the mastermind behind the privatisation of MAHB.
Wan Fayhsal, known for his vocal opposition to MAHB's privatisation, had claimed that senior employees of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) were involved in the privatisation exercise and had used intimidation tactics against other employees.
His disclosure drew criticism from the government, who asserted that Wan Fayhsal had a duty to ensure a proper investigation was conducted upon receiving such a poison pen letter.
His suspension was enforced through a bloc vote, following his refusal to retract statements deemed offensive and "unparliamentary". Wan Fayhsal became the first lawmaker to be suspended for six months since DAP stalwart Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang was suspended for the same period in 2018.
Political drama
In a surprising turn of events in the Dewan Rakyat, six Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) lawmakers broke ranks by openly declaring their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, citing the wellbeing of their constituents as justification.
Bersatu subsequently submitted a notice to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, requesting that the six parliamentary seats held by these representatives, who had supported Anwar, be vacated.
Their declarations led to their expulsion from Bersatu in June.
Johari ruled that they had not violated the anti-party hopping law and could retain their seats.
The six lawmakers are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).
In another twist in the Dewan Rakyat this year, the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee ruled that the controversial claims made by Datuk Wan Saifulruddin Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor) — that he had been offered rewards, including RM1.7 million for his constituency, in exchange for supporting Anwar — did not mislead the House.
The committee concluded that the evidence presented by Wan Saifulruddin was substantiated and it urged the lawmaker to report the matter to the relevant authorities.
Anticipated bills
In the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sessions, several significant bills are anticipated to be tabled, reflecting the government's commitment to legislative reforms and institutional strengthening.
Notable among these is the Malaysian Media Council Bill, aimed at establishing a self-regulatory body to oversee the media industry.
This council is intended to enhance journalistic standards, develop a code of ethics and provide an independent complaints mechanism. The second reading of the bill is expected in February 2025.
Meanwhile, the Ombudsman Malaysia Bill which seeks to establish an independent body to handle public complaints related to maladministration, thereby improving governance within the public service, is slated for introduction in 2025.
Extensive stakeholder consultations have been conducted to ensure the bill's effectiveness and comprehensiveness.
A new bill concerning house arrest measures is expected to be tabled by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The legislation aims to introduce legal provisions for house arrest, enhancing the country's legal framework for monitoring and restricting the movements of individuals under specific circumstances.