The BN attacks on PAS’s hudud agenda involve scaremongering of the worst kind. BN’s alarmist politics aside, can hudud law actually become a reality for Malaysians? And how likely is it that it will be implemented in the near future?
Parliament
Strengthening parliamentary democracy
By Deborah Loh
The majority of MPs who responded to MP Watch want parliamentary democracy strengthened. Two top suggestions for doing this were reforming election practices and having parliamentary select committees.
MPs and separation of powers
By Deborah Loh
While most of the MPs who were voted in in 2008 believe in the separation of powers between the three pillars of government, up to 40% of those who replied to MP Watch say the concept is not fully practised in Malaysia. This is especially because the executive is too powerful.
MPs and lawmaking
By Ding Jo-Ann and Koh Lay Chin
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) are also sometimes called legislators or lawmakers as they sit in the legislature and pass laws. But how far do Malaysian MPs play this role?
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Possible GE13 outcomes
By Ding Jo-Ann
IT’S nomination day today. Thus begins the official campaigning period for the 13th general election since Malaya’s independence (GE13). The Nut Graph asks political scientist Dr Wong Chin Huat what possible outcomes we can expect come polling day on 5 May, and what it would mean for BN and PR.
Towards an independent Parliament
By Deborah Loh
In the first part of his interview last week, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia talked about the speaker’s impartiality and dealing with accusations of bias. In part two, he discusses improvements for Malaysia’s Parliament, and the realities of local parliamentary and political culture. TNG: In line with other advanced parliamentary systems, what […]
Understanding the Dewan Rakyat
By Deborah Loh
PETALING JAYA, 21 March 2011: How does Parliament work? How well do you know your Members of Parliament (MPs) and what they stand for? And what is the state of democracy in Malaysia? Answers to these questions will soon be out in a new book, Understanding the Dewan Rakyat, by The Nut Graph in collaboration […]
Creating a purposeful Parliament
Guest Column by Jamie KhooONE thing is obvious from the answers of the Members of Parliament (MPs) who responded to The Nut Graph‘s MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project: more focus is given to their roles as constituency caretakers than as lawmakers. Not that it’s entirely the MPs’ fault. Part of the reason for this is the way the […]
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Who makes a better opposition?
By Ding Jo-Ann
THE last general election birthed a situation that was not common before 2008: the Barisan Nasional (BN) functioning as an opposition. Although the BN has been the opposition in Kelantan for many years, it was a completely new experience for them in Selangor, Penang, Perak and Kedah. Indeed, the blanket term “opposition” previously used to […]
Should the subordinate courts have more power?
Holding Court by Ding Jo-Ann
WHY has there been such a furore over the government’s amendment of the Subordinate Courts Act? And why should the public care that the Act has been amended? As a result of Parliament passing the amendment, the Sessions Court can now hear civil cases worth up to RM1 million while the Magistrates Court cases worth […]
