KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition lawmakers are up in arms over Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s directive this morning banning MPs from using their mobile devices to livestream Parliament proceedings.
Raising his grouses in the Dewan Rakyat today, an offended Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN) proposed that MPs position their devices to face the speaker instead, so as to assuage concerns of lawmakers not addressing the speaker during their speeches.
“If there are claims of me not looking at the speaker (during speeches), I can set up my device to face the speaker… I am someone who is always looking at the speaker, other MPs look at the speaker less than I do.
“It is unfair to use Standing Order 35(1) against us (opposition lawmakers). The RTM livestream won’t show our faces because we’re not as handsome as those on the other side (government bloc), such as the economy minister (Rafizi Ramli),” said Shahidan.
Noting that he will be submitting a motion to debate the matter, the PAS MP lamented that the livestreams are the “only thing opposition lawmakers have” as they have “not received their allocations”.
Meanwhile, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Muda) chimed in to suggest that the ruling be put on hold until government and opposition representatives are given a chance to discuss the matter in a meeting with Parliament’s Committee of Privileges.
This, he said, will ensure that the decision has elements of bipartisanship as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are given a chance to discuss the matter.
“The standing order referenced is about having to look at and address the speaker (during speeches). I think we’ve been doing that all this while.”
Shahidan and Syed Saddiq have often been seen using multiple mobile devices to livestream their parliamentary speeches in the Dewan Rakyat.
The videos are then uploaded to their social media platforms, including TikTok, Twitter and Instagram.
Expressing similar sentiments, opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-PN) alleged that the ruling might be due to how certain parties do not want citizens to see for themselves debates brought by Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“(The ban) has brought about feelings in some MPs. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding, we could be wrong, but perhaps if our strong debates are allowed to be livestreamed to the whole country, then it will be proven that the opposition through PN can help the people’s interests.
“Whenever (opposition MPs) host livestreams, our followers nationwide increase drastically. My condolences to all MPs, including Arau (Shahidan), who is Raja TikTok (TikTok King) of Malaysia,” he said in jest.
Hamzah, who is also Bersatu secretary-general, said this when responding to an interjection from fellow Bersatu MP Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran-PN) during the former’s debate on Budget 2024.
“The speaker’s ruling is disappointing. It is a regressive move that does not reflect the government’s attempts to explore modern digital platforms. Do you agree?” Kiandee had questioned, to which Hamzah answered in the affirmative.
Earlier today, Johari announced that MPs who have been livestreaming their speeches in Parliament are violating Standing Order 35(1) as their attention is on “communicating with their audience”.
He added that MPs who wish to repurpose their speeches for their social media content are welcome to do so by picking up recordings from Parliament’s official YouTube channel, RTM or other media outlets.
“When you (MPs) have your own livestream going on, your attention is not in the Dewan. You are communicating with your audience, this is very bad.” – October 16, 2023