| Local | ||
|
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 09:05
Last updated on Wednesday, 17 March 2010 10:08
|
||
| Caucus of Independent MPs Can be Third Force in House |
 |
 |
|
KUALA LUMPUR, 16 MARCH, 2010: The setting up of a caucus of independent members of parliament can turn these MPs into a third force in parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (pic) said today.
"I support the setting up of the caucus because there are now many independent MPs. They can be a group which supports or criticises the government," he told reporters at the lobby of parliament, here.
Nazri was asked to comment on the suggestion by independent MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Zahrain Hashim (Bayan Baru) to set up the caucus to strengthen the position of independent MPs and give them a common voice in the Dewan Rakyat.
On another matter, Nazri expressed disappointment over the walkout by opposition MPs when the House did not allow debate on a motion tabled by the Home Ministry for the House to order the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the passages through the streets leading to Parliament were kept free and opened during the current session.
He said this only went to show that they did not hold to the advice given by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, yesterday for MPs to observe decorum in the Dewan Rakyat.
Nazri also announced the appointment of R. Sundra as the director of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) as of March 1.
Sundra, a lawyer, has sat on the panel of world arbitration bodies such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, International Chambers of Commerce, and Chinese International Economic Trade and Arbitration Commission.
"It is hoped that his appointment will contribute to government efforts to strengthen KLRCA as a reputable arbitration centre in Asia.
"As such, it is our hope that the private sector, corporate companies, business communities and government-linked companies would use the KLRCA as their first choice in resolving their commercial disputes," he said. |
He said the seven independent MPs could be the third force after the Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs as the first force and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs as the second.