LIFE for former Gerakan president and cabinet minister Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik is quiet these days since he retired as party head in April 2007 and from government the following year. In his last media interview in February 2010, Lim talked about his frustrations with the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and with Gerakan, the [...]

ARE support letters by elected representatives and councillors necessary to maintain good public relations, or are they a political liability that are open to misuse and abuse?

THE Dewan Negara, or Senate, has long been perceived as a “rubber stamp” of the Dewan Rakyat or Lower House in Malaysia. In a Westminster parliamentary democracy, the Senate is meant to provide checks and balances on the Lower House. Indeed, healthy democracies thrive because of checks and balances. That the Dewan Negara in Malaysia [...]

THE following Member of Parliament (MP) has not replied to the six questions under MP Watch: Eye on Parliament as of Thursday, 8 April 2010, the end of a two-week deadline. Her responses will be updated if and when she replies. (source: parlimen.gov.my) Name: Tan Lian Hoe  Constituency: Gerik  Party: Gerakan Years as MP: Since 2004   Government post: [...]

SIMPANG Renggam Member of Parliament (MP) Liang Teck Meng’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions. (source: parlimen.gov.my)Name: Liang Teck MengConstituency: Simpang Renggam Party: GerakanYears as MP: Since 2008 Government position: None Party position:   Central committee member   Youth vice-president Membership in parliamentary committee or [...]

I REFER to the incident in Parliament on 14 Dec 2009 whereby a substantial number of Members of Parliament (MPs) failed to turn up for an important debate and the voting of the 2010 Budget. As a result, the budget was passed by a thin majority of 66-63. However, the pertinent issue is not the [...]