Spotlight on policies and politics

The Star

5 days ago

PETALING JAYA: Along with the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) which would set the tone for the country's development over the next five years, new dynamics on the government bench, tariffs and Bills are set to grab the limelight in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat meeting which begins tomorrow.
The 13MP, which is the first full-fledged development blueprint under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's government, is scheduled to be tabled on July 31. This will be followed up with lawmakers' debates and ministerial responses.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul recently said that the House will allocate adequate time for MPs to debate the plan, not ruling out the possibility of extending the clock to 10pm-11pm if there is a need.
'We want the debate (session) to be more substantive and MPs should not overpoliticise the situation.
'MPs need to stay focused on what issues we are discussing ... how (they) can help the government by suggesting things the government may have overlooked, that is our role,' he was quoted as saying recently.
It is worth noting that former Economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, who played a key role in the formulation of the 13MP, will return to the House as a backbencher following his resignation on May 28.
Rafizi had also questioned the government's 'hasty' decision to 'restructure and reshape' the 13MP before the deadline.
'Why is the issue of 'restructuring the 13MP draft' arising at the last minute when there were no such concerns raised throughout the time I and the Economy Ministry presented the contents of the 13MP before this?' he asked in a statement on June 27.
Rafizi said the statement 'to restructure and reshape' the 13MP has triggered concern among civil servants, market analysts and the public at large.
He noted that the 13MP, which outlines Malaysia's development agenda for the next five years, had been prepared entirely by civil servants in record time – under one year – without engaging external consultants.
This came after Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar announced that Finance Minister II Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan had been tasked with reviewing and revamping the core framework of the 13MP.
In the updated seating position in the Dewan Rakyat, the Pandan MP along with his party colleague and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who also resigned as Natural Resources and Environ­mental Sustainability minister, have been moved to the backbenchers seats in Bloc D from their previous seats as part of the executive arm in the government bench.
Observers believe the duo would also be the check and balance, and emerge as a voice of reason from within the government bloc.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Professor Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the duo's absence from the Cabinet would raise questions on the strength of the party's progressive voice within the government.
'This opens up a new space for progressive leaders like Rafizi and Nik Nazmi, who can now play a freer, more outspoken role outside the executive.
'Unbound by the constraints of Cabinet collective responsibility, they are now in the position to ask sharper questions, raise pressing public issues and advocate for grounded, realistic policies, which is different from the populist and emotionally driven rhetoric often employed by the Opposition,' he added.
He said the dynamics now will not only be that of the government versus the Opposition but would hinge on the voices of these two MPs as backbenchers.
He said if the two are very critical, it would signal cracks in the government.
However, if done right, he said this could increase the government's credibility as it would be seen as an administration that is open to criticisms.
'This has the potential to increase the people's trust,' he said.
'The people are evaluating how serious this government truly is in bringing about change. If voices like Rafizi and Nik Nazmi present thoughtful and non-emotional arguments, it will boost confidence in the unity government.
'Therefore, this parliamentary session is not just about policy or the Opposition versus the government. It will become a platform to reposition these two reformist figures, who may prove more effective outside the Cabinet, criticising policy weaknesses, offering fresh ideas and shaping a new, more mature political culture.'
As for the House's order of business, the second readings of Bills such as the Consumer Credit Bill 2025 and several Bills under the Housing and Local Government, which were tabled in the last meeting, will continue.
The Auditor-General's report will also be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.
As for important Bills that will be tabled for the first reading, a government source said the Bills that was previously scheduled for tabling has been 'retracted for further refining'.
When contacted, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the tabling of the Urban Renewal Bill (URA) is on track.
'The URA will be tabled in this meeting. It is on schedule for August,' she said.
Aiman also said her ministry will table other Bills as well.
The 25% tariff imposed on Malaysia by the US government too is expected to dominate the polemic in the House as it comes into effect on Aug 1.