Demokrasi Tergendala… Hendak Belanja Apa Tanpa Kelulusan Parlimen?

PINDAAN Ordinan Darurat semalam memberikan kuasa kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan dan Negeri untuk menambah perbelanjaan tanpa melalui Dewan Rakyat atau Dewan Undangan Negeri – mengingatkan kita bahawa demokrasi di Malaysia sedang tergendala.

Dari sudut kesahihan dan keabsahan pindaan ordinan ini, tiada pertikaian. Benda sudah berlaku. Kerajaan ada kuasa tersebut dan jelas mereka tidak segan hendak menggunakannya.

Tetapi belum ada sebarang penjelasan apa tujuan mereka “bypass” Parlimen dan DUN?

– Hendak belanja beli laptop untuk PdPR?

– Menjamin peluang kerja untuk ratusan ribu anak muda, termasuk yang akan tamat pengajian? Belum jelas apa laporan Majlis Pekerjaan Negara yang agak sunyi dalam KPInya mewujudkan 500 ribu pekerjaan.

– Menarik pelabur dari Korea Selatan dan Jepun? Bagaimana mengurus keyakinan pelabur yang semakin merudum untuk melabur dalam negara yang menghentikan fungsi semak imbang wakil rakyatnya?

– Mempercepat pelaksanaan Undi18 dan pendaftaran automatik?

Meskipun sudah terlepas tanggungjawab prosedur demokrasi berparlimen buat masa sekarang, Kerajaan wajar mengambil tanggungjawab moral untuk sekurang-kurangnya memaklumkan perancangan perbelanjaan tambahan.

Sepatutnya kalau perancangan itu baik, Ahli-ahli Parlimen pun akan luluskan. Tapi sekarang dengan pindaan ordinan, tak perlu takut. “Confirm” boleh belanja.

Maka, jelaskanlah kepada umum apa perancangan perbelanjaan itu. Barangkali Kerajaan boleh mempertimbang komentar dan kritikan membina ke arah penambahbaikan – sepertimana Belanjawan 2021 tempoh hari.

Akhirnya, kuasa masih di Kerajaan – tetapi bukalah sedikit ruang akauntabiliti.

SHAHRIL HAMDAN
KETUA PENERANGAN

Democracy stalls, spending without Parliament’s approval?

AMENDMENTS to the Emergency Ordinance yesterday empowered the Federal and State Governments increase spending without the approval of the Dewan Rakyat or the State Assembly – a reminder how democracy in Malaysia is stalled.
Going through the amendment, there is no doubt that things are already happening. The government has no shame and conscience riding it.
However, there is no explanation as to why they can overpass the Parliament and states legislative! Want to buy a laptop for PdPR purposes?
What they should focus now are:
– Guarantee job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of young people, including those about to graduate? It is not clear where would the 500,000 jobs mentioned in the National Employment Council will come from.
– Wooing the South Korean and Japanese investors? How to manage the declining confidence of investors toward the country when the elected representatives are gauged?
– Accelerate the implementation of Vote18 and automatic registration.
Although parliamentary democracy seems to be dead currently, the Government should take a moral responsibility to at least inform the public about their additional expenditure plans.
If the plan is good, for sure the Members of Parliament will approve it. But with the amendment to the ordinance, they can always spend to their whim and fancy.
So, explain to the public what the spending plan is. Perhaps the government can consider constructive comments and criticism for improvement purposes – such as the 2021 Budget.
After all, the power is still in the Government – what we need now is to see a little space for accountability.

SHAHRIL HAMDAN
Information Chief

 

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