Orientation for new YBs? Abas keeps open mind
Published on: Thursday, January 14, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali keeps an open mind about the idea of orientation for new assemblymen to familiarise themselves of their duties.He said if a need for it to be introduced arises it would be a good capacity-building opportunity for the newly-elected members.He added that it would greatly benefit members in performing their duties if they have a good grasp of the functions and policies of all ministries and statutory bodies under them.ADVERTISEMENT "Sometimes from the way they asked questions it appeared to me that they didn't quite understand the actual functions and policies of certain ministries and also the statutory bodies," he told the Daily Express after the closing ceremony of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth held at the State Assembly on Wednesday.On Tuesday, Parliament (Dewan Rakyat) Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia had said he supported the idea of a special training for elected representatives to understand their duties before taking office.He stressed its importance in view of high public expectation that all 'wakil rakyat' must perform their duties to the highest of standards and therefore should know what to say and how to behave Parliament.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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He did not hide the fact that some elected representatives were too arrogant to undergo training simply because of their 'Yang Berhormat' title and recalled a time when a training organised by Parliament for the new faces was boycotted by the opposition on political reason. ADVERTISEMENT The topic about capacity building for elected representatives was elaborated at the conference by New Zealand Speaker David Carter who had said elected representatives in his country were fortunate to have a good service support that would enable them to perform their duties efficiently.