Monday, April 28, 2008

MPs at work - do us proud or get out!

WE have high expectations of the new Parliament which begins tomorrow. There are 222 MPs sitting in the august chamber, elected by the people to serve the people. How they fare as spokesmen for the rakyat and whether they can advance the rakyat's cause will be scrutinised closely.

We the people are a lot more discerning now than ever before. That is already made known via the recent general election, which has also changed the national political landscape for good. Malaysia has to move forward on this landscape, for better or for worse.

After the ground battle of March 8, our MPs will now lock horns on higher ground. It is our hope that they can raise the level of articulation as befitting parliamentary debate. In the past MPs from the ruling coalition had got away with some dubious behaviour, with supporting casts from the opposition bench.

To expect an overnight change in the behaviour of these MPs may be more of wishful thinking, but one should give them the benefit of the doubt. With so many issues confronting us, I don't see how how MPs can hold or control their tongue and speak without bringing the House into disrepute.

New MPs making their maiden appearances may try to create an early impression, which is fine really, provided they show maturity, depth and finesse in their articulation. I hope they will not emulate the 'name calling and other ungentlemanly conduct' of their seniors, some of whom somehow survived the brutal contest of March 8.

Over the years, we all have seen the articulation (or lack of) within the House to the point that reduced it to nothing more than a school debate. To be fair, there were MPs who speak after doing their homework, conducting research as they argue their case. But their numbers were small and often drowned by noisy lawmakers who knew no better.

Looking at some of the names of our MPs who will be taking their oath of office today, I'm not all that optimistic that we have seen the last of the 'bad boys,' that is, legislators who make up their lack of substance with shameful behaviour. We all know who they are.

I bet you that some MPs will try to 'make news' one way or the other during question time, when RTM will be doing their crossovers for live feeds. He or she who speaks the best or who attracts attention may get free live coverage, if RTM sticks to the philosophy of what makes news.

Providing live coverage is good, but hopefully RTM will make a serious attempt to provide coverage in the true sense of professional journalism. Just because so and so is a minister and is scheduled to speak wouldn't guarantee the rakyat glued to the TV. Instead, it will be an injustice to the amount of money spent on live coverage.

But let's not be presumptious. Proceedings haven't even started. Lets observe and make our conclusion later. At the end of the four or five years sitting from now, we'll make our final judgement on our MPs - that's when we separate the wood from the chaff.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

datuk apa khabar...harap dapat singgah ke blog saya, walau sebentar cuma, mungkin banyak yang dapat kita iktibarkan bersama...

Ahmad A Talib said...

what's your blog shahril? tq

Anonymous said...

I think the MP will definitely shine. Well they have too. The people have spoken, we are the masses, the voices.

I believe in the whole election, being with it the ministers. Eventhough some of them are ridiculously being promoted, well we just got to trust them.

Anonymous said...

opposition MPs or BN, let's just support the cause of staying united for MALAYSIA. Let the government do their job and we as rightful citizens shall do nothing less but support them.

phillix-starscreamer said...

I support every word you've posted. Unlike many other blogs I've surfed JUST today, you are talking about giving MPs a chance to prove themselves before throwing them in the category of 'bad apples' just because they're in power. I also agree that not all who got in power seem like they're worthy but like you said - let's not be presumptuous, and let them prove their worth. Malaysia is watching.

Anonymous said...

www.syahrilkadir.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Yes! PLEASE do us proud!

Anonymous said...

Datuk Mad,

Your comment on MPs at work - do us proud or get out. I beg to differ Datuk, don't tell them to get out, tell them to get lost. They are `lost' any way and mind you, it majority of them. Lost in the middle of nowhere!

They never learn, be it BN or opposition MPs, literally or other wise. Half hour life telecast in Parliament, yesterday, proves us right. I don't take majority of them seriously now, knowing them is just a `coincidence', getting rid of them is a `privelege'. Thousands apology...

Ramli Mohd Yunus
Alor Star, Kedah.