Asfia: Coming meeting of speakers to discuss need to modernise standing orders

KUCHING (Sept 9): Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar points to the need to modernise parliamentary and state assembly standing orders in light of evolving challenges, particularly the rise of social media.

He said these topics will be discussed during the coming 2024 Conference of Parliamentary and State Assembly Speakers of Malaysia, hosted by Sarawak, and the primary objective of the meeting is to enhance the standards of parliamentary democracy across the country.

He also said that one significant area where the standing orders fall short, is in addressing the influence of social media.

“We want to avoid disorder in the legislative assemblies or Parliament because law and order must be maintained, which is why we are proposing amendments to the standing orders.

“Much has changed over the years, and some of the current provisions are outdated. The rise of social media is a new phenomenon that is not covered by the existing rules.

“Issues such as how to deal with social media criticism of parliamentary proceedings or rulings are not mentioned in either the Sarawak DUN or the national Parliament’s standing orders,” he told a press conference at the Sarawak DUN Building today.

He noted that while Sarawak’s standing orders are among the most comprehensive in Malaysia, they still do not account for how to handle social media commentary.

That is why, he pointed out, when a ruling is made by the Speaker, there can be a flood of comments on social media while there is no guidance in our standing orders on how to address this currently.

Asfia urged the speakers attending the conference to take these concerns seriously and share their opinions on how to address this modern challenge, while asserting the importance of maintaining order in Parliament or the DUN within the framework of standing orders.

“That is because social media criticism of Parliament, the Speaker, or rulings is not currently covered by these rules. This gap highlights the need for input from all speakers at the conference,” he said.

Asfia also noted the increasing trend of press conferences and public comments following Speaker rulings, which further complicates the situation, as he has observed that after a ruling, immediate press conferences often occur, and social media comments rapidly emerge.

These developments, he added, were not anticipated by those who originally drafted the standing orders, underscoring the necessity for updates to address these new challenges.

“Because of that, we need to have comprehensive review of standing orders to ensure that parliamentary institutions and speakers are prepared to handle the current situation.

“The original drafters did not foresee the challenges of today, and the evolving conditions call for a thorough study to equip parliamentarians and speakers with the tools to manage these unexpected circumstances,” he said.

Scheduled to take place this Sept 12 and 13, the conference will be officially opened by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Sept 13 at 9.30am at the Sarawak DUN Building’s Dewan Santapan.

“A total of 42 delegates, comprising Speakers and Deputy Speakers from the Dewan Negara, Dewan Rakyat, and State Legislative Assemblies across Malaysia, along with their respective Secretaries, will gather for the event.

“The conference aims to strengthen the role of the Speaker, as well as Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies, as platforms representing the voice of the people. It will also serve as a forum for sharing knowledge and experiences among the speakers.

“In addition to fostering stronger relationships between Speakers, the conference will offer an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and experiences in fulfilling their duties,” said Asfia.

He said three keynote papers will be presented during the conference, delivered by the Presidents of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat, and the Speaker of Sarawak’s State Legislative Assembly.

Aside from the sessions, delegates will be taken on tours to various cultural attractions around Kuching, showcasing the unique local heritage of Sarawak.

Sarawak last hosted the prestigious event 28 years ago in 1996, and the state is honoured to once again host the conference and warmly welcomes all delegates, Asfia added.

“The conference is expected to further solidify the role of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies as key platforms in advancing democracy and increasing government accountability to the people.

“It is hoped that this gathering will successfully achieve its objectives and strengthen the cooperation and relationships among Parliamentary and State Assembly Speakers throughout Malaysia,” said Asfia.

Also present during the press conference was Sarawak DUN secretary Nur Azhar Bujang.