DAP’s response comes after Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub revealed yesterday that Pakatan Harapan would unveil its shadow Cabinet early next year.
DAP has been calling for parliamentary reforms to allow a Shadow Cabinet system similar to those in the United Kingdom and Australia, said DAP Socialist Youth executive secretary Muhammad Shakir Ameer Mohideen in a statement today.
In those countries he said, the government took the role of opposition parliamentarians seriously and opposition MPs also took part in the implementation of government policies.
“In Malaysia, the problem is that the Prime Minister does not dare face questions from opposition MPs and always sends a representative to answer on his behalf,” he said.
He said that on the other hand, the Selangor government through the state assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh has implemented a number of reforms to the state assembly.
These reforms, he said included making sure the state opposition leader, in this case an Umno MP, chaired the state’s public accounts committee.
The chairman, he added, would also receive a special allowance, official car, office and secretary.
Other reforms, he said included allowing open debates on motions put up by the opposition and assigning four researchers for all assemblymen in the state to enhance the quality of debates in the state assembly.
“Strangely, even though these reforms benefit Umno’s 12 assemblymen, the state does not have an opposition leader from Umno. This shows Umno and Barisan Nasional are not mature enough to commit to the strengthening of democracy in the country.”
Shakir said Salleh also forgot that DAP had announced its own shadow Cabinet last year for 18 portfolios.
“We would like to remind Salleh and BN to look at their backyards first before criticising us,” he said, adding Pakatan Harapan had its own strategies and plans.
He was responding to Salleh’s statement that Pakatan Harapan should first show the people its shadow cabinet before even thinking about forming the government.
Salleh said there were many questions which the opposition needed to answer, such as who would be prime minister, deputy prime minister, and what is the Cabinet line up, especially now that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has joined forces with Pakatan Harapan.