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Sharon Kam and Pauline Puah, The Sun PETALING JAYA (April 27, 2008): Santubong MP Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar just wants his constituents to enjoy fresh water, electricity, proper roads, things that many of us take for granted. "We are still talking about basic needs like water and electricity, school and health issues, after all this time," said the lawyer from Sarawak.
People may be talking about Malaysia having "third world mentality but first world infrastructure" but Wan Junaidi said he cannot boast to have first world infrastructure in his kawasan, let alone first world mentality. "So the needs of my area are my priority," he said when asked what issues he will be bringing up when the new Parliament session begins. As far as he is concerned, he does not make promises to his electorate. "I work hard to get them what they need but I don’t make promises because it is the government that decides, not me. If I don't have anything in hand, how can I promise them anything? The veteran MP from Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu was elected Batang Lupar MP in 1990 and served for three consecutive terms before switching to Santubong in 2004. Wan Junaidi expects Dewan Rakyat sittings to be more "robust" this time. "We are going to hear a lot more voices, a lot more ideas and constructive criticism coming from both the opposition and the Barisan Nasional (BN). There are a number of high-calibre individuals, not only among the opposition but also among the backbenchers, so I expect them to rise to the occasion and create a high standard of debate and presentation rather than just play politics. You want to play politics, play it outside, not in Parliament," he said. "The Pakatan Rakyat MPs, if they want to be the alternative to BN, must show they are of that kind of sobriety and professional decorum. But if you just want to show you can shout the loudest, then go somewhere else," he said, adding that this applies to all MPs. Wan Junaidi, who has been nominated Deputy Speaker in the Dewan Rakyat, pledged to be fair in carrying out his responsibilities. "But I will insist they follow rules because there is no unfettered freedom. There are dos and don'ts which an MP must observe. if lawmakers cannot comply with the law, we cannot expect the public to comply with the law which the lawmakers made." He added that MPs from both sides must be given due respect. "We come from different political parties with different ideologies but share the same objective of wanting to govern the country in the best possible way. So we are all brothers," he said. In the Dewan Rakyat, Wan Junaidi has been among the regular attendees and an active participant in past debates. "At 62 years of age, if I can make my way regularly to the Dewan and stay on even when there is an extension to the sitting, I do not see why the younger ones cannot." On talk that there may be Sabah and Sarawak BN MPs hopping over to opposition parties, he concurred with Backbenchers' Club deputy chairman Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) that Sabah and Sarawak MPs are staunch supporters of BN. "I am not for sale. Party-hopping is corruption of the highest order," he declared. "During elections you contest under a certain banner but when things are not going your way, you go to the other side. This shows you are only looking out for yourself. "Persuading someone to jump ship through whatever means is also unethical and immoral. Can you imagine a party hopper ending up being a Minister one day?" he said. Wan Junaidi also has an alternative proposal to anti-hopping laws as such laws can be challenged in court because of the right of association. The alternative could be the right to recall system, which was mooted in India. Under this system, a re-election can be called in the event an MP hops to a different party with the particular MP as one of the candidates. "Once he jumps, we need to ask his constituency whether they still want him. This system, however, may be costly and disruptive." In contrast with the veteran MPs on the backbenches like Wan Junaidi, Bung Mokhtar and Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) who will have former minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (BN-Kuala Kangsar) among them this time, is the generally younger crop of MPs from Pakatan Rakyat. YOUNGEST
Among the youngest is 27-year-old Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang). Tabling a Private Member’s Bill on Freedom of Information (FOI) will be her first priority. The first-timer said the Bill may not be passed, but it would be an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of having an FOI Bill. "Civil society groups have been campaigning for legislation on FOI to promote greater transparency and accountability, especially in the public service. Currently, there is limited access for the public to information, especially to government documents as they are often classified as "secret" under the Official Secrets Act (OSA)," she said. Teo, a lawyer, would also like to push for local council elections. "But our main focus now is to finalise the FOI. If we put too many bills at one time, people will lose focus," she said. She will also raise issues of public interest such as the building of vernacular schools, highway contracts, repeal of the Internal Security Act and the Universities and University Colleges Act. Teo, who was dubbed "Serdang Cili Padi" due to her fiery oratory skills while on the election campaign trail, feels it is not going to be easy for her to stand out and get noticed in Parliament as she would be among many other good orators. She also believes a parliamentarian should put the people’s interest before anything else, including the party’s interest. "Yes, we should protect the party’s interest. But, if the party is trying to control us, then I don’t think there is any meaning in becoming an MP. I don’t think I want to let the people down," she said. On Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Teo said Anwar was the crucial factor in helping the opposition "pass the election with flying colours". However, she does not deny that there are many who do not trust him. "To me, we should appreciate him for his role in helping our country reach a two-party system. For those who do not trust him, they should judge him later should he come into power," she added. NERVOUS
Another new face in the Dewan Rakyat is Dr Siti Maria Mahmud (PAS - Kota Raja) who is feeling rather nervous about setting foot in the Lower House for the first time. Siti Mariah is among three PAS women MPs making their debut, a first for the party who never had a woman MP before this. "There will be increasingly more women candidates from PAS in future but the more experienced ones must prepare and groom potential younger leaders. We are chosen based on our competency," she said. She would like to be able to debate on things that matters to Malaysians and reach a consensus between the ruling and the opposition MPs. "As colleagues in the Dewan Rakyat, I will respect our differences and accept their opinions if they are good for Malaysians," she said of the BN MPs. Among issues she will be raising would be the repeal of the ISA, greater protection for housebuyers, foreign workers and women’s rights. The former lecturer would also like to bring up weaknesses in the education system, especially the matriculation system. "I was a lecturer with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s medical faculty for 13 years. When students enter the first year, I could see the difference between matriculation students, who are mostly Malays, and STPM holders who are more mature and more resilient. "Although the matriculation students have good results in the SPM, the semester system in the matriculation studies is too cramped. It does not give them enough time to digest and absorb what they learn. It is very content-oriented. We should be nurturing them to think, analyse and solve problems," she said. Siti Mariah is a member of PAS' central committee and Dewan Muslimat (women’s wing) committee. Parliament snippets BN MPs: 140 Opposition MPs: 82 New MPs: 99 Among the youngest MPs: Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang) and Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) - both 27 Longest serving MP: Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (BN-Gua Musang); since 1969 Number of women MPs: 24 First woman Opposition Leader: Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) Mother and daughter: Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) and Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) Father and son: Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) and Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) and Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) Father and son-in-law: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (BN-Kepala Batas) and Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) Brothers; Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru) and Khalid Abdul Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) Some backbenchers to look out for: 1. Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (Kuala Kangsar) 2. Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau) 3. Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan (Kota Belud) 4. Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun) 5. Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Santubong) 6. Datuk Mohamad Aziz (Sri Gading) 7. Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan) 8. Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (Lenggong) 9. Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique (Tenggara) 10. Datuk Ismail Kassim (Arau) Pakatan Rakyat MPs to look out for: 1. Tony Pua Kiam Wee (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) 2. Chua Tian Chang (Tian Chua) (PKR-Batu) 3. Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Machang) 4. Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) 5.Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang) 6. Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) 7. N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) 8. Gorbind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) 9. Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS-Kota Raja) 10. Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PKR-Sungai Siput)
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