Kuala lumpur: The decision of some opposition lawmakers to walk out of the Dewan Rakyat and boycott yesterday's ministerial briefing on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji (TH) has undermined their role as a check and balance, particularly in safeguarding the interests of TH's 10 million depositors, analysts said.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia expressed disappointment over the opposition's decision, highlighting that depositors expected their elected representatives to use Parliament as a platform to scrutinise the report and seek explanations from the government. He emphasized the importance of staying in the Dewan Rakyat to listen to the minister's briefing and engage in debate if necessary.
Mazlan further explained that the opposition's walkout, allegedly due to the absence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was unjustified as the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan was capable of providing necessary explanations. He noted that the Prime Minister's absence was due to medical treatment, and the focus should have remained on the issues surrounding Tabung Haji.
The boycott, Mazlan warned, could lead to political repercussions by creating a perception that the opposition was less committed to championing depositors' interests at a critical time when the sustainability and management of the institution require ongoing scrutiny.
Echoing this sentiment, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Department of Social Sciences senior lecturer Dr Nazreena Mohammed Yasin argued that active participation in the debate was crucial for ensuring the check-and-balance function of Parliament. She stressed that the Dewan Rakyat debate offers an institutional platform for MPs to scrutinise findings and hold the government accountable.
Nazreena also highlighted that government accountability does not solely depend on the Prime Minister's presence, as relevant ministers are responsible for addressing MPs' questions. She underscored the importance of MPs' participation in debates to ensure follow-up actions from RCI findings are scrutinised, including the implementation of policies and governance measures.
The incident occurred when Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs, including Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, walked out of the Dewan Rakyat, opting not to participate in the debate on the TH RCI report. The walkout included notable figures such as PN Chief Whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Samsuri Mokhtar. Takiyuddin had proposed postponing the sitting due to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof's absence, both of whom were reportedly receiving medical treatment.
The special sitting aimed to address the ministerial briefing by Zulkifli on the TH RCI report, focusing on efforts and measures to restore the institution's financial position following findings of management and operational weaknesses between 2014 and 2020.