PETALING Jaya Selatan Member of Parliament (MP) Hee Loy Sian’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions.
(source: parlimen.gov.my)Name: Hee Loy Sian
Constituency: Petaling Jaya Selatan
Party: PKR (Opposition)
Years as MP: Since 2008
Government position: None
Party position:
Selangor vice-chairperson
Central leadership council member
Membership in parliamentary committees or caucuses: None
Blog/Website: http://heeloys.webs.com/
Would you support the abolition/review of the Internal Security Act (ISA), in particular the provision that allows for detention without trial? Why or why not?
Yes. I support its abolition because a person must be proven guilty in a proper trial before he or she is imprisoned for an offence.
Do you think Malaysia should be a secular or an Islamic state? Why?
I think Malaysia should be a secular state and not an Islamic state where Islamic belief determines our political system. At independence, it was agreed that Malaysia would be a secular state. Islam would be the religion of the federation while believers of all other religions could also freely practise their religious beliefs. Given the large proportion of non-Muslim citizens, a secular state is the most appropriate political system for Malaysia.
How do you define your role as an elected MP? Does Parliament provide you with the necessary infrastructure and support to fulfill your role?
I understand my role as an elected MP as bringing the voices and issues of the people into Parliament, ensuring that legislation passed will serve the people’s interests, and overseeing my constituency’s development.
All MPs from Barisan Nasional are allocated RM1 million per year for their work in their respective constituencies. The government should distribute such allocation to all MPs, regardless of their party affiliation, so as to enhance MPs’ capacity and efficiency in serving the people.
Would you support a Freedom of Information Act? Why or why not?
Yes, I would support a Freedom of Information Act. The people should be free to access information, in particular information that is of relevance to public interest, that may affect their lives and help them to make informed decisions.
If there was one thing you could do to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Malaysia, what would it be?
The Election Commission should be made accountable to Parliament instead of the prime minister’s department. Citizens attaining 21 years of age should automatically be granted the right to vote without prior registration.
Do you believe in separation of powers between the government, Parliament and judiciary? Why or why not?
Yes. When each of these institutions is rendered autonomous, then they can perform their functions effectively. This would ensure that there is no abuse of power by any one of them. 
For other MP responses, see Full MP list
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