KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul is considering making it easier for members of the public to view member of parliaments' attendance records.
During the Concorde Club forum organised with senior media editors today, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker said he will look into the suggestion, especially from the legal perspective, as there should be amendments that needed to be made.
"I have to look at the legal part, whether it's possible or not, but certainly if you ask me personally, yes it should be. But, again, I have to look into mechanisms or the law or the standing orders," he said.
The Concorde Club is a forum on current issues by selected speakers initiated by veteran journalists, including newly-appointed Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
Also present was New Straits Times Group Editor Farrah Naz Karim.
At present, members of the public need to access the Hansard via the Parliament's website to learn more on MPs' attendance records.
On possible punitive measures for MPs' lack of attendance, Johari said a plan was already in motion where federal lawmakers would have to meet certain hours in order for them to receive their allowances.
He said that MPs have both moral and legal responsibilities especially towards their voters.
"Of course some of them would say things like 'we are not students that we have to attend school everyday', but that should not be the way. You were the ones who appealed to your voters to be elected as MP, how can you say something like that now?"
At the height of the campaign period for the 15th General Election (GE15) last year, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said MPs' attendance at Dewan Rakyat sessions cannot be compared with students attending school because of the differences in systems and processes.
He had said most people could not understand the role MPs play, which was not as straightforward as it may seem.