Tony Pua said the current crop of MPs were not elected on the basis of their expertise in public policy, although it was not a criteria when it came to voting and was a “typical problem” in a democracy.

But the three-term MP said there is no need to change how elected representatives are chosen.

“Instead, MPs need to better understand public policies and be well versed on the issues debated,” he said in the latest episode of the “Are We Ok” podcast, hosted by former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming.

“Whoever gets voted needs to get themselves up to speed on public policies, economics, science, and whichever areas they’re interested in.”

He was responding to a question by Ong on how government backbenchers can play a more effective role in terms of being responsible MPs from a policy perspective.

Pua also took a swipe at opposition MPs, citing a “lack of substance” in their parliamentary debates.

“Their topics and issues are always one-dimensional. It is always about race, religion, alcohol, and attire,” he said.

Pua said running a country involves a myriad of things that do not necessarily concern these four issues, yet the opposition keeps harping on them.

He said MPs from Pakatan Harapan, when they were the opposition, had more depth when debating in the lower house.