GEORGE TOWN: Members of parliament who fail to attend sittings for a specified duration may soon risk losing their allowances once the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA) comes into force.
The PSA clearly outlines MPs' attendance requirements, stating that those who miss sittings for six months without valid reasons may lose their seats.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said that, although no MPs had lost their seats for this reason so far, the new measures were crucial for accountability.
"I want to warn all MPs that they must attend parliament sittings. We know who attends and who doesn't.
"Under the PSA, I am suggesting that MPs who fail to attend parliament sittings for a certain period will lose their allowances. We are just waiting for the PSA to be cleared by the Cabinet. It may be tabled by the end of the third parliament sitting," he told newsmen after a visit to the Penang state legislative assembly here today.
Johari acknowledged that not all MPs could be present at all times due to other official duties, particularly Cabinet members.
However, he stressed that attendance was mandatory unless there were unavoidable circumstances.
"It is not daily that they can't attend parliament sessions. Some may be overseas, but not throughout the whole session. You have the schedule and can match it with the parliament sittings. Attending parliament sittings is a must unless there are unavoidable matters," he added.
The PSA is designed to grant autonomy to parliament in managing its affairs and is expected to be tabled in the next session.
Meanwhile, Johari said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had never interfered in parliament matters.
He said since he took over as the speaker, he had brought forth numerous reforms in parliament and would continue to do so for its betterment.