Parliament Media Centre Use Must Follow Set Guidelines – Speaker

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The use of Parliament facilities, including the media centre, must comply with established application procedures to prevent misuse, particularly involving outsiders and partisan political activities, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.

He said Parliament belongs to all Members of Parliament (MPs) and they are entitled to use the facilities provided, but such use must be coordinated to ensure they are not abused.

“I am entrusted to coordinate and lead as stipulated in the Constitution. The application procedures set for rooms or the media centre are meant to ensure there is no misuse.

“Members of Parliament can use all facilities here. What is not allowed is for outsiders, those who are not Members of Parliament,” he said when making an announcement before resuming the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Johari said the requirement to state the purpose of using the facilities is intended to ensure official amenities are used for public and government affairs, while also preventing tensions among stakeholders in Parliament.

“That is why we impose the condition of providing information to us. What is it to be used for? If it is to express agreement or disagreement with the government, that is each person’s right... so I myself have no power to prevent it,” he said.

However, he said announcements or political activities may be carried out outside the media centre or in other suitable areas, including MPs’ rooms.

Meanwhile, Datuk Wan Saifulruddin Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor) sought clarification on the guidelines for the use of the media centre, which state that doorstep interviews or interviews without permission are not allowed, and whether the ruling applies outside the media centre, including in MPs’ blocks.

Johari explained that the ruling is focused on the use of the media centre, while interviews conducted outside the media centre are not an issue.

The updated guidelines on the use of the Parliament media centre, issued on Jan 21, among others stipulate that the use of the Malaysia Parliament Media Centre is reserved exclusively for Members of Parliament and is not permitted for use by outsiders.

-- BERNAMA