KUALA LUMPUR: More visitors are expected to turn up at Parliament following the return of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the PKR de facto leader who has just won the Permatang Pauh by-election.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz said he anticipated more people would go to Parliament, regardless of whether they are Anwar’s supporters or not.

However, Nazri also said that the Parliament sitting would still be the same.

"I prefer him (Anwar) to be inside (voted in as MP) rather than outside.

"In Parliament, people can ask him questions and he has to be responsible, accountable and answerable.

"I know the man,'' said Nazri, adding that he feared no one in Parliament.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said he did not expect anything lesser than a Deputy Prime Minister as Anwar was one.

"He was in that capacity before and the decorum must be there.

"I expect quarrel to take place in the Dewan but maybe he would be able to control those from the opposition,'' said Pandikar.

He also said security would not be tightened in Parliament and it would be business as usual.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar also told reporters at the Parliament Lobby that there would be no extra policemen nor roadblocks on Thursday.

OPPOSITION MPs walked out of the Dewan yesterday – the second tine in two weeks – after appeals for the Speaker to reconsider his decision to disallow a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister was rejected.
Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur) stood up at the end of the session to complain that many MPs had been “obstructed” on their way to Parliament due to the roadblocks in the city.
“The Dewan tabled a motion on April 28, when the first meeting started, for the Inspector-General of Police to ensure smooth passage for MPs to the Parliament building.
“Under Standing Order 26(1)(p), the Dewan should discuss a motion to refer the IGP to the Special and Privileges Committee,” he said.
When Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said it was enough for Lim to attract the Dewan’s attention by just citing the Standing Orders, the DAP adviser remarked: “The best Speaker speaks not, and he is one who does not speak too much.”
This sparked a retort from Pandikar Amin who said he would continue to speak and “YB Ipoh Timur should sit down when I’m talking”.
Chaos then ensued as the Opposition MPs started objecting one after another amidst shouts from the backbenchers.
Things became worse when Azmin Ali (PKR – Gombak) demanded that the Dewan divulge who was behind the alleged demonstration to be held in front of Parliament.
“There is no plan from any party within Pakatan Rakyat for such a demonstration but the accusation is so evil that the police would even take out a court order to prevent Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from coming here,” he said as shouts drowned him out.
This resulted in another round of shouting match between Azmin and Tajuddin Ramli (BN – Pasir Salak), and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar.
“Bring Anwar Ibrahim here. He is the one who causes the chaos,” said Tajuddin.
At this point, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR – Permatang Pauh) asked Pandikar Amin to reconsider his decision to reject her no-confidence motion, which was submitted on Thursday.
Despite explaining that he had to reject the motion due to the “wrong use of words”, both Dr Wan Azizah and Azmin pressed on with their appeals.
After another bout of arguing, the Opposition bloc left the Dewan en masse at about 12.20pm.
On June 30, Opposition MPs walked out of the Dewan on the first day of debate for the motion on the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, when Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tabled a ministerial statement to elaborate on it.

SECOND Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said subsidies would not be abolished, but it was more important for the Government to practise efficient economic policies that would help Malaysia become a fully developed country.

Nor Mohamed said the Government had received many questions and criticisms on the rationale behind the move to restructure the fuel subsidies.

“The Government decided to raise the fuel prices, but reduce the people’s burden through the subsidies.

“Assistance will also be given to eligible Malaysians through the social safety net programmes,” he said during the winding-up speech on behalf of his ministry.

Nor Mohamed said among the social safety net programmes were for public transportation companies to buy diesel at RM1.43 sen per litre instead of RM2.58.

This would help reduce the burden on the public transportation sector, he added.

Nor Mohamed said the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) and the Cabinet committee on inflation were adequate forums to seek views and measures to counter economic issues.

There was no need to form new committees to discuss the issue of the rise in oil prices, he added.

Among the suggestions that had been discussed was that currencies other than the US dollar be used in trading to reduce over-reliance on the greenback.

“We have asked for trading currencies be changed from the dollar to the euro or the yen, but even the Japanese exporting communities preferred the US dollar.

“Hence, oil trading has always been dictated in US dollars or more widely known as petrodollars,” he added.

SHOCKWAVES pounded the Dewan Rakyat one after another starting with a sodomy allegation and ending with a statutory declaration on Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder.

There was so much action on the side that the debate on the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan was sidelined as many MPs tried to get the latest updates.

The week started with everyone asking the whereabouts of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following the sodomy allegation against him. Many were also asking who the accuser – 23-year-old Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan – was.

Anwar's wife, Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) and daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) were much sought after by the media.

Inside the Dewan, Anwar also caused a stir when Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) mentioned his name when he tried to ask a supplementary question on housing.

An argument between Gobind Singh and Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia took place and Gobind Singh ended up being kicked out of the Dewan for two days.

It was Monday and the drama had only just began.

At the end of Question Time, just when Dr Wan Azizah was scheduled to debate on the Mid-Term Review, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stood up to table a ministerial statement.

Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur), citing Standing Orders, protested, saying it was an unprecedented move for Najib to speak as the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had tabled the motion on the Review the previous week.

Lim said that anything that Najib wanted to say should have been done when supporting the motion then.

Pandikar Amin replied that the Malaysian Parliament had its own House rules and allowed Najib to speak.

Opposition MPs then staged a walkout as Najib went on to explain the government’s social restructuring policies.

Dr Wan Azizah, who was outside the Dewan with the rest, did not get to debate and it was Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) who spoke – for more than one hour.

Meanwhile outside Parliament house, a group of PKR supporters and several NGOs who wanted to meet Dr Wan Azizah, ended up having a shouting match with security personnel when they were denied entry.

The next day turned out to be hectic again as news emerged that Anwar had left the Turkish Embassy the evening earlier.

The highlight of the day was the meeting concerning Anwar's safety between Abdullah and Dr Wan Azizah at his office in Parliament building.

There was other activity as well as S.A. Vigneswaran, who quit as MIC Youth chief days earlier, met Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein while MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu met Najib.

Inside the Dewan, Pandikar Amin announced that Gobind Singh visited him in his office to apologise and therefore the episode between them was closed.

But Gobind Singh returned to Parliament and denied making any apology.

“I have no reason to apologise, I have done nothing wrong and there is no need for me to apologise,” he said, showing no remorse.

This riled several MPs, who tried to refer him to the Rights and Privileges Committee.

While tension was mounting inside the Dewan, in the lobby the press waited for Abdullah and Dr Wan Azizah’s meeting to be over.

In the end, the journalists had to split up to attend Abdullah's press conference and Dr Wan Azizah's – as both held them at the same time.

On Thursday, Parliament was again hit by the shock wave of private investigator P. Balasubramaniam’s statutory declaration linking Najib with murdered Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) latched on to the piece of breaking news in his debate and received jeers and shouts from the backbenchers.

However, he caught the attention of MPs resting in the lounge as many rushed to the TV screens to listen.

It really was a hectic week, very unlike the usual sittings.

The Dewan Rakyat sits again tomorrow.

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has proposed an increase to the development allocation ceiling from RM200bil to RM230bil for the mid-term period of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) due to rising costs.

“I would like to emphasise that the Federal Government will continue to implement the 9MP (2006-2010) development projects in all states,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, when tabling the motion on the mid-term review of the plan.

For the latter period of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the Government would continue to manage the macro economy in a prudent manner to ensure that the economic fundamentals remained strong, he said.

PM’s hour: Abdullah tabling the motion on the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysian Plan in Parliament Thursday.

While the global economic growth is projected to moderate at 4.1% for the 2008-2010 period, the Malaysian economy is forecast to expand at an average of 6% per annum.

Abdullah said the policy and strategy framework for the mid-term review would focus on five main thrusts:

> Moving the economy up the value chain by increasing productivity and competitiveness, generating new sources of growth and expanding the markets for the country’s goods and services;

> Raising the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nurturing a first-class mentality. The strategies include improving the quality of education and accessibility, making national schools a preferred choice, creating tertiary institutions of international standing, nurturing quality R&D and enhancing scientific and innovative capabilities and fostering a society with strong moral and ethical values;

> Addressing persistent socio-economic inequalities between ethnic groups, in which six key strategies would be implemented: poverty eradication, improving income distribution, ownership restructuring, achieving balanced development between regions and the development of the bumiputra commercial and industrial community (BCIC);

> Improving the standard and sustainability of life by increasing healthcare services, meeting housing needs and improving urban services, building basic infrastructure, improving transportation facilities and ensuring environment conservation and sustainable management of resources; and

> Strengthening institutional and implementation capacity of the public service delivery system, increasing confidence in electronic-based services and implementing outcome-based planning, monitoring and evaluation.

WHO is the boss in Parliament? That is the question on many people's mind now.

No one seems to know who ordered the ban on media access to the Parliament lobby on Tuesday, which prompted print, TV and online media to immediately unite and boycott lobby news coverage.

The ban not only caught journalists off guard but also Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz, who is in charge of parliament affairs.

Both said they were in the dark about the ban.

Since both were not involved, Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BBC) members took the initiative to remove the red tape barricade that same afternoon.

Deputy BBC club chairman Datuk Bung Moktar Radin said : “The administration did not inform us of the ban, so we need not tell them we are removing the barricade.”

The media boycott lasted for a day and even the functions of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak were not spared.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia called a press conference the next day after news and photos of the media's boycott hit the front pages of several newspapers.

Pandikar said it was a mix-up, a misunderstanding between the press and Parliament administration in the latter’s effort to tighten security.

“There is no winner or loser here, only a mix-up,” he said, while refusing to say if the ban was lifted after the BBC removed the barricade.

However, he said the press was free to move around the Parliament lobby but lines would be drawn against the press who “ambush” certain MPs or ministers.

“I would be the last person to impose a ban on reporters, but could you think again before you put your tape recorder in front of the person you interview. Is he comfortable?” asked Pandikar Amin, who also reminded the press to maintain decorum in pursuit of news stories.

So is that the reason for cracking down on the press?

Reporters cornering ministers at the lobby for stories while cameramen and video crew jostling to get the best angle may have led led Deputy speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to describe the lobby as messy and chaotic.

“There should be more order at the lobby,” said Dr Wan Junaidi.

The administration was also not happy with a birthday celebration of a five-year-old girl brought in by Opposition MPs and the distribution of red eggs to mark the one-month period of becoming MPs in May. The press were there, too.

Traditionally, the lobby has been an area for the press to approach ministers and MPs to clarify and follow up stories as well as a place for impromptu press conferences.

Before the recent national polls, three or four journalists were enough to cover a Parliament sitting but now a bigger number is required.

Ministers have to be in the dewan to make up the ruling party presence and as a result they are less likely to be attending functions outside Parliament. Reporters have no choice but to track them down in Parliament.

With more Opposition members voted into power after the polls, more reporters are needed in the lobby to cover their stories.

MPs and ministers generally like to mingle the press in the lobby and often give unscheduled press conferences.

However, some appear to find the press presence intimidating and appear to feel they have lost their privacy.

Dr Wan Junaidi and those of his ilk may not realise that the local press does not enjoy the easy access to public information as those in Western countries. The entire Parliament sitting is not telecast live here.

For instance, while each MP got a copy of the Mid-Term Review Report of the Ninth Malaysia Plan on Monday before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tabled a motion on Thursday to debate it in the dewan, reporters had to beg and borrow from press-friendly MPs to keep the deadline.

A standard reply from the Parliament administration would be “you are not entitled to a copy. Only MPs are.”

The ban on media access is therefore extremely frustrating for pressmen just trying to do their jobs and many view this as an effort to restrict press freedom in Parliament.

As it is, in the name of security and after the 2004 renovation, journalists covering Parliament no longer share the same entrance, staircase, cafeteria, toilet or even the door into the chamber that MPs use.

Now journalists are only allowed to enter via one of the back entrances, submit press tags issued by the Information Ministry in exchange for a Parliament media tag, hand over an identity card to be screened, go through a scanner to scan bags and laptops and climb two flights of staircase before reaching the media centre.

Therefore, the ban on pressmen entering the lobby was the straw that broke the camel's back.

However, with the barricade down and the boycott called off things are not quite back to normal.

The media ban episode does not end with the boycott being called off.

The BBC and Nazri are at loggerheads now over the removal of the red tape barricade. Nazri called the BBC action childish, unbecoming and gangster-like.

In retaliation, BBC chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said Nazri had gone overboard with his harsh comments.

They plan to meet tomorrow to discuss the next course of action.

Nazri has challenged BBC to ask Abdullah to sack him as a minister tomorrow – or shut up forever

The dewan resumes tomorrow.