Special Select Committees easing partisan tensions in Dewan Rakyat
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said bipartisan participation in the 10 special select committees promotes greater collaboration and mutual respect among lawmakers, while enabling issues to be discussed constructively.
"Previously, we had only one café where, after a 'tough fight' in the Dewan Rakyat, we would gather for a teh tarik session.
"Unfortunately, that no longer happens and I'm very disappointed. Some people (MPs) refuse to join in, even after debating in the Dewan Rakyat, and they tend to take things too personally.
"Now, we have established 10 parliamentary special select committees, compared to just a few in the past.
"These committees include members from both sides of the divide. When an MP is part of a special select committee, any decision made is a joint one, and it is brought to the Dewan Rakyat as a collective decision.
"Once a decision is made, the MPs cannot later turn around and act as if they disagreed with it — that defeats the purpose.
"The whole idea is to break down the walls between the two sides. Even if we cannot completely tear down those walls, at the very least, we are lowering them enough so they can reach across," he told reporters after launching World Public Relations Day 2025 (WPRD 2025) at SEGi University today.
The 10 special select committees comprise those focused on finance and economy; health; domestic entrepreneurship, cost of living and agriculture; infrastructure, transport and communications; and nation building, ethnicity, education and human resource development.
Also established were committees on women, family and community development; environment, science and plantations; security; international relations and international trade; and human rights, elections and institutional reforms.
Johari added that various seminars were also being held to bring MPs from both sides closer together.
"Previously, it was rare for Parliament to host such events. But now, through the special select committees, we have started organising various seminars and public engagements.
"The goal is to reduce tension, so that MPs understand when they walk into Parliament, they are there not for their party's agenda, but for the people's interests.
"That is what we are trying to do, though it is not easy."
Meanwhile, earlier in his speech, Johari said nation-building begins when the government communicates truthfully, inclusively and with the public's best interests in mind.
He said communication that becomes a one-way monologue — or worse, propaganda — undermines public trust rather than building it.
"Nation-building is not born of slogans; it develops through deliberate communication and consistent engagement.
"Malaysia's story is one of resilience, diversity and aspiration. But this story must be told truthfully, inclusively and powerfully.
"As we take our place as Chair of Asean and the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly 2025, our communications must reflect not only what we stand for, but what we strive to become.
"We must position ourselves not just as a nation among nations, but as a regional voice of unity, sustainability and democratic maturity," he said.
He also called on the public relations and communications sector to play its part, noting that Parliament is a living, breathing entity — a platform to nurture and groom the next generation of thinkers, advocates, leaders and policymakers.
Meanwhile, in a recorded address, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil praised the initiative and highlighted the importance of grooming young communicators with strong ethical grounding and strategic foresight.
"We've seen patterns, trends and channels of communication shift rapidly every year, and it is vital to instil in youth a sense of ethics and
purpose in their communications."
More than 350 students, communications professionals and industry leaders attended WPRD 2025 — a day of knowledge sharing, critical discourse and empowerment of the next generation of communicators.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
An anti-PM rally that began as disquiet with urban renewal
About 300 people attended a rally in Shah Alam on July 6. Rally organisers say 300,000 are expected today, but police estimates put it at 10,000 to 15,000. PETALING JAYA : The 'Turun Anwar' rally to be held later today has been billed as the largest anti-government rally since Anwar Ibrahim was appointed prime minister in 2022. Rally organisers say they expect up to 300,000 participants, but police estimates put it at some 10,000 to 15,000. A similar protest in Shah Alam earlier this month drew just over 300 people. However, today's rally will feature several prominent politicians, including former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim as well as former PKR MP Tian Chua. Yet, despite the recent back and forth between Anwar's supporters and detractors in the past few days, the push for Anwar's removal was not the initial goal of the rally. In February, PAS Youth announced plans to hold a rally to protest against the Urban Renewal Act, which was expected to be tabled on July 31, claiming that it would displace minorities. But in June, the wing decided to rebrand the rally, shifting the focus to a demand for Anwar's resignation, based on issues arising from decisions made by the prime minister. The change was mocked by a PKR Sabah leader who accused PAS Youth of shifting the goalposts due to the lukewarm response it received to the planned anti-URA rally. On Thursday, Perikatan Nasional Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said the rally was specifically about Anwar and not aimed at toppling the unity government. Leaders from PKR have criticised the organisers, saying any change in government should be done democratically – via the Dewan Rakyat – rather than through street protests. On Friday, PKR Tenggara chief Fakharuddin Moslim said Anwar does not make unilateral decisions and that government policies were a collective decision FMT columnist Tajuddin Rasdi also wondered who could succeed Anwar should the opposition get what they wished for, suggesting that there is no worthy candidate to take over the reins. On the other hand, Anwar seems to be taking this matter in his stride. The prime minister was a student activist and the inspiration for anti-government rallies during the Reformasi period following his unceremonious sacking from government in 1998 and he also supported the Bersih rallies over the past 18 years. According to his senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, Anwar has only expressed hope that the rally proceeds peacefully and in an orderly manner, and had even instructed the police to facilitate today's gathering. Tunku Nashrul said the government's stance on the matter is in line with one of the Madani principles the administration espouses, 'celebrating democracy'. In driving home the point on respecting such rights, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said he has ordered all public transport services, including KTM and RapidKL, to operate as usual tomorrow. Loke even encouraged participants to use public transport.
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Small parties risk being tied to PN in opposition front
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and leaders of six small parties met last week to discuss the formation of a united opposition front. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Small parties invited to join the proposed united opposition front may find it difficult to shake off perceptions that they have become part of Perikatan Nasional itself, a political analyst said. Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said PN, largely made up of PAS and Bersatu, remains the most influential opposition force ahead of the 16th general election due to its strength in the Dewan Rakyat and state assemblies. 'Since PAS is the strongest party in PN (based on seat count and its control of four states), there's a high chance it will drive decisions or plans that may not favour non-Malay parties. 'These smaller parties, which have little to no representation in the Dewan Rakyat or state legislatures, will still be seen as operating under PN's framework,' he told FMT. He was commenting on remarks by Urimai chairman P Ramasamy, who said it was 'misleading' to equate joining the proposed united opposition front mooted by PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin with entering a formal coalition. Ramasamy said his party supports Bersatu's call for a united opposition, but has no intention of becoming part of PN. Muhyiddin held talks on July 18 with leaders of several opposition parties, including Muda, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, Pejuang, Putra, the Malaysian Advancement Party, and Urimai. Mazlan said it would be a major challenge to balance the Malay-Muslim-centric messaging of PN with the multiracial and equal rights platforms of other parties. 'There could be a clash of narratives, which will create a dilemma about what image PN wants to project. Its success so far was built on Malay support. Now they're cooperating with non-Malay leaders who were previously labelled as hardliners,' he said, referring to Ramasamy and MAP chief P Waytha Moorthy. Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara said the grouping must be carefully managed to avoid internal conflicts rooted in race or religion. 'If PN can focus on broader issues like government's performance and public welfare, it could serve as a more cohesive opposition force offering ideas that resonate with voters,' he said. However, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said any party considering joining the 'united opposition front' would weigh PAS's role carefully. 'Ramasamy is right in saying that being invited does not equate to joining PN, even if Bersatu is leading the initiative. But the reality is that, without PAS, there is no real opposition. It remains the dominant force based on the results of the 15th general election,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
I wanted education portfolio in Cabinet, says Rafizi
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said children must be taught to be honest and civic-minded rather than be a minister who steals from every direction. PETALING JAYA : Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli says he would have preferred to be the education minister, calling it the most important portfolio for reforming the country. 'If I could, I would want to be education minister, but I don't think people would like it,' he said on the latest episode of the Yang Berhenti Menteri podcast yesterday. The Pandan MP said education is the foundation for long-term change, particularly in dismantling a culture of corruption, and that institutional reforms alone are not enough. 'Yes, this culture can be changed. Everything starts with education. That's why I always criticised Fadhlina Sidek (education minister),' he said. 'Everything begins from school. We need to teach children that there are different models of success. It's better to live an honest, ordinary life, take care of others, and be civic-minded than to become a minister who steals from every direction.' Rafizi also joked that if he took up the portfolio, he hoped people would not remember him only for the government's black shoes policy. He was referring to Pakatan Harapan's first administration in 2020 when then education minister Maszlee Malik announced a switch from white to black school shoes, saying black shoes were easier to keep clean. The move drew much criticism and ridicule amid concerns over declining education standards. Rafizi said he accepted the economy portfolio out of necessity, following the 2022 general election (GE15) that resulted in a hung Parliament and the formation of a unity government. He said there was an urgent need to stabilise markets and restore public confidence in the government's economic management. 'But you can't fix the economy if you don't fix the education system,' he said.
