Launching of the Malysian Book "Understanding The Dewan Rakyat"

By: Ibiere.Bele Herbert

IN January 2010, The Nut Graph embarked on an ambitious project: to ask all 222 Members of Parliament (MPs) their views on various issues of national interest. MPs were asked, among others, their opinions on the Internal Security Act, whether Malaysia should be an Islamic or secular state, and what they believed their roles as MPs were. A total of 113 MPs replied and the results of the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament.project have now been compiled in a book titled Understanding The Dewan Rakyat.

The book was produced in collaboration with the Malaysian Bar Council’s constitutional law committee through its My Constitution campaign, and launched by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia on 23 Mar 2011. Other than the MPs’ responses, it also contains chapters on how Parliament works, the speaker’s functions and powers, and analyses of the MPs’ answers.

When addressing guests at the launch, the book’s co-editor Deborah Loh said she hoped that the book would help to refocus political debate on substantive issues. She also said the book would be a guide for voters, journalists, analysts, political parties and MPs, especially with the next general election expected to be called soon.

The MP Watch project and the book were supported by the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation. The book  is published by ZI Publications Sdn Bhd and will be available at major book stores on a limited print run from mid-April. The book is 564 pages long and will cost RM95.