SPEAKERS' CONFERENCE A PLATFORM FOR EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE - JOHARI

MELAKA, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Conference of Speakers of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies of Malaysia 2024, which will be held from Sept 11 to 14 in Kuching, will serve as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience among Speakers.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Johari Abdul said that with the tagline 'Memperkukuhkan Institusi Speaker' (Strengthening the Institution of the Speaker) the three-day conference is also expected to "standardise" the thinking among Speakers in the State Legislative Assemblies (DUN) and Parliament.

"It should be remembered that Speakership is also leadership institution because Speakers lead their respective assemblies... not only during the sessions but also outside of the sessions, we (Speakers) lead as well.

"So perhaps the ideas put forward can be adopted by the Executive, accepted by the government for implementation because the Speaker will hear all the arguments from the Honourable Members," he said.

Johari told this to reporters after being a guest at the Melakafm studio during his working visit to the Melaka State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

Commenting on his working visits to various states, he said it is expected to become an annual routine in the future to strengthen relationships with his state counterparts.

"This is the first time I am implementing this official working visit to the states, and I believe it should become a ritual practice, so if possible, yearly, so that each time we want to hold a conference, the Speaker (of the Dewan Rakyat) should come down and discuss with friends," he said.

When asked about the Youth Parliament, Johari said he would review several matters, including amendments to relevant laws to increase the number of Youth Members of Parliament to 222 from the current 100.

He expressed his desire to see one Youth Member of Parliament from each parliamentary constituency nationwide so that they can become future leaders.

He added that a Youth Member of Parliament would be appointed to hold the position for a two-year term, and he aims to see approximately 500 Youth Members of Parliament within one parliamentary term.

-- BERNAMA