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LKS writes to PM to ask for 2-4 day extension of parliamentary meeting to allow full debate on the Royal Police Commission Report and the Suhakam 2004 Report


Media Conference
by Lim Kit Siang

(Parliament, Wednesday): Yesterday, I wrote to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asking for a two-to-four-day extension of the current parliamentary meeting to allow for full debate on the Royal Police Commission Report and the Suhakam 2004 Report tabled in Parliament on Monday. 

In my letter to the Prime Minister faxed to the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday morning, I sought government support for 

(i)  A three-day debate on the Police Royal Commission Report, whether on a government motion or my  motion on the Police Royal Commission  Report which is the first private member’s motion on the Order Paper;

(ii) A two-day debate on the 2004 Human Rights Commission Report. 

(iii) An extension from two to four days for  the current parliamentary meeting to accommodate the two above-mentioned debates. 

Parliament had never debated annual  Suhakam Reports although Suhakam is required by law to be accountable to Parliament by specifically submitting its reports to Parliament. In doing so, Parliament has done itself, Suhakam and human rights a grave disservice and such undesirable  past practice of simply ignoring Suhakam reports should not be continued by Parliament.

 

I have also yesterday submitted a motion to Parliament on the Suhakam 2004 Report, which reads: 

“That the House TAKES NOTE of the Suhakam Report 2004 tabled in Parliament on Monday, 20th June 2005 and RESOLVES to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee on Human Rights to examine Suhakam Reports and to be responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights in Malaysia.” 

My three proposals to the  Prime Minister have been made to enhance Parliament’s proper role in a system which gives proper  respect to  the doctrine of separation of powers of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, which Abdullah  affirmed in his  maiden official speech as the fifth Prime Minister in Parliament on 3rd November 2003 as well as to make the Malaysian Parliament a “First World Parliament” to fulfil Abdullah aspirations of “First World Infrastructure, First World Mentality” aspiration for Malaysia.

 

(22/06/2005)      

                                                       


*  Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur and Strategic Planning Commission Chairman