PETALING JAYA: A Bersatu leader has blamed the lack of media coverage of Perikatan Nasional MPs’ speeches in policy debates for the accusation that the opposition lacks substance.
Wan Saiful Wan Jan of Bersatu said the media barely reports on opposition MPs when they touch on weightier issues in the Dewan Rakyat.
Wan Saiful, who is MP for Tasek Gelugor, said the media rarely covered their debates on issues involving the people, economy, governance or international affairs.
The Bersatu Supreme Council member urged the media to provide more comprehensive coverage of opposition MPs when they debate on government policies.
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Wan Saiful, a former Bersatu information chief, was responding to a claim by former Damansara MP Tony Pua that opposition MPs lacked substance in parliamentary debates.
The DAP man had said that speeches by opposition MPs were always one-dimensional and limited to issues related to race, religion, alcohol and attire.
However, Wan Saiful said Pua’s claim was selective and reckless, and intended to paint a bad image of PN.
A former MP, Eddin Syazlee Shith, said Pua should not take a shallow view of the issues raised by opposition MPs, as they all involve the people’s interest and political stability.
Eddin added that the issues raised were constructive and based on grassroots concerns.
“In terms of quality and the role played by opposition MPs, they are much more substantial than the opposition MPs when I was in Parliament,” he said. “He cannot say that the issues raised have no substance.”
Eddin was MP for Kuala Pilah from 2018-2022, and served as deputy minister in the three governments since 2018.
Former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon, from Bersatu, suggested that opposition MPs pay attention to issues that the government has not covered, as their role is to provide a check and balance and provide quality debate in Parliament.
“The fundamental duty of the opposition is to examine angles not explored by the government. Therefore, they need to read extensively and acquire statistical data,” he said.
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