However, now we have a situation where elected members of parliament, including some cabinet ministers and their deputy ministers don't attend parliament, to the extent that parliament could not proceed for a while due to lack of quorum.
I suppose Malaysian voted for a dysfunctional democracy on 9th May 2018, whilst:-
The ringgit continues to depreciate against the U.S. dollar
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=USD&to=MYR&view=1Y
Relations between Malaysia and Singapore are expected to cool. "The research house expects Mahathir’s administration to be more confrontational towards Singapore, marking a shift in relations, which had been friendly under the leadership of Malaysia’s previous prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak." https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2018/07/25/malaysia-singapore-ties-expected-to-cool-in-near-future/
The Statistics Department has predicted that growth in Malaysia's economy is expected to slow down over the next few months.
"KUALA LUMPUR (July 23): The Statistics Department has cautioned that Malaysia’s economy is expected to grow slower in the next four to six months, between September and November."
http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/msia-economy-contract-between-sept-and-nov-says-stats-dept
Nett foreign funds inflow into the Bursa Malaysia - i.e. the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange throught most of 2017
https://www.malaysiastock.biz/Market-Statistic.aspx?m=2017
...turned into a nett outflow of foreign funds after the 9th May 2018 general elections
https://www.malaysiastock.biz/Market-Statistic.aspx?m=2018
..and a nett weekly outflow of foreign funds each week over the past eight weeks
https://www.malaysiastock.biz/Market-Statistic.aspx?m=w
..and a nett daily outflow of foreign funds from Bursa Malaysia in six out of the past seven days.
https://www.malaysiastock.biz/Market-Statistic.aspx?m=d
Bloomberg seems to believe that Malaysia stands to lose a lot in terms of trade, investments, tourism, the Malaysia my second home programme and property sales by suspending further construction of the East Coast Rail Link.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/25/malaysias-problem-how-to-cut-a-better-economic-deal-with-china/
Meanwhile, Malaysia wants to have a women-friendly sports complex in three years.
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1655793/malaysia-to-have-women-friendly-sports-complex-in-three-years-minister-says
Meanwhile, crowdfunding from generous Malaysians concerned over Malaysia's supposed RM1 trillion debt have donated a total of RM10 million into the Tabung Harapan (Fund of Hope) to help Malaysia pay off the debt.
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1655836/Finance-Ministry-says-over-RM10m-for-Tabung-Harapan-from-donors-abroad
It looks like Malaysia is pretty screwed right now but we voted for it, so have to live with it.
Anyway, The Star's report on Wednesday 25th July 2018 follows below.
thestar.com.my
Many MPs missing in action - Nation
3-4 minutes
KUALA LUMPUR: They worked long and hard during an often intense 14th General Election campaign to win seats in the Dewan Rakyat, yet some MPs are apparently finding it a challenge to attend the daily meetings in the august House. And it is only the second day of the second week of the new Parliament.
A day after the Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the attendance of ministers and their deputies in Parliament, the Dewan Rakyat was forced to halt proceedings temporarily yesterday due to a lack of quorum.
Although the delay only lasted several minutes, it was widely shared on social media.
Some people were dismayed by the episode, while others were willing to accept that some of the MPs could have been very busy with other responsibilities, including their jobs in the ministries.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Arrif Md Yusof had ordered the House to stand down after Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB-Kapit) noted that there was not enough MPs present.
“There are no ministers or deputy ministers in the House, so can we proceed as there is a lack of quorum?” Alexander asked when the House resumed at 2.30pm after the lunch break.
Mohamad Ariff took note of the Sarawak MP’s observation and stopped proceedings. The bell was rung for two minutes to prompt lawmakers elsewhere in the Parliament building to enter the Dewan.
The proceedings resumed after Mohamad Ariff announced that there were 35 MPs in the hall.
Poor turnout: Photos posted on Twitter by Annuar showing a nearly empty Dewan Rakyat.
Under Standing Orders 13, there must be at least 26 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan to allow proceedings to be held.
It is understood that some MPs had attended the funeral of Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng yesterday.
Pictures tweeted by Tan Sri Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh) at various times showed an almost empty hall.
On Monday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had expressed his dissatisfaction over the attendance of his Cabinet members and their deputies in Parliament.
He said ministers and deputy ministers should improve on their attendance records or have valid reasons if they cannot make it.
Last week, Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) also questioned why the Government’s front bench was empty during the motion of thanks on the Royal Address.
“Not even a single Cabinet Minister in the Dewan Rakyat to listen to the Opposition leader’s speech,” the Rembau MP had tweeted.
Facebook user Afiq Ghazali said the ministers were working hard as the country’s debt was RM1 trillion.
But another user, Iskandar Suw, pointed out that not all MPs had ministerial duties.
“Other MPs should put their commitment in Parliament and bring the rakyat’s issues there,” he said.
Jasper Dasper suggested that allowances of absent MPs be cut and demerit points be given for “absence without solid reasons”.
Former minister Tan Sri Rais Yatim shared a similar view in a tweet, adding that another measure could be the publication of the names of “lazy” MPs in newspapers or on social media.
https://www.thestar.com.my/new
Yours trully
Politischeiss
http://politischeiss.blogspot.com/
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