KOTA KINABALU: The Government and Opposition need to sit together and cooperate through Parliamentary reforms and inclusiveness, says a Sabah-based think tank.

The Society Empowerment and Economic Development of Sabah (Seeds) said that newly-minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the opposition must open up to each other and set a roadmap towards political cooperation in overcoming the Covid-19 and economic woes faced by the country.

A confidence and supply agreement (CSA) and an invitation for the opposition to sit in parliamentary select committees were the way forward in creating a conducive political environment to bring back public confidence in the government.

"At this juncture against the backdrop of health and economic crisis, political cooperation is crucial," the group said, adding that the CSA offer by former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was an offer that came too late.

They said government institutions working together was a way for both sides of the bench to come together and discuss, design, implement and monitor any policies being proposed.

"In times of crisis, if politicians truly want to be seen as mature representatives of the people, then it is time to act beyond politics and power play. This is part of the process in restoring people’s confidence towards our political institutions," they said.

Seeds said that all the existing Parliamentary select committees should include an equal number of members from both the Government and Opposition bench.

"One of the major criticisms reverberated throughout the previous government was the lack of inclusion of oppositions and civil society in managing Covid-19 and the many strategies adopted by the government." they said.

By expanding equal membership to each select committee, MPs can monitor every strategy put in place by the government, they said, adding that the same formula should also be applied for chairmanship of the committee.

It added that there is also an urgent need for the creation of a Select Committee on Sabah and Sarawak Affairs to look into issues revolving state rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

"It is high time for our elected representatives to be actively involved rather than just being mere spectators in the whole process. Best way to do it is through the establishment of a special select committee in the Parliament,” they said.

The many issues faced by both states should not be viewed as a “Sabahan or Sarawakian issue” but rather a national issue, said Seeds.

It added that Ismail Sabri's offer to the Opposition to be included in the National Recovery Council was a right direction, saying that at least one-fifth of its members should be from the opposition.

"Seeds believes democracy is about representing the will of the people. And to represent the will of the people, existing institutions must uphold the integrity, accountability, transparency, and sanctity of the rule of law," they said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/08/28/seeds-parliamentary-reforms-the-way-forward-for-malaysia