Live telecast Cause Of Parliament Descending Into Chaos? - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- Was the 30-minute live telecast of parliamentary proceedings by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) the cause of the Dewan Rakyat descending into chaos Wednesday?

Backbenchers accused opposition MPs of using the broadcast media in trying to be "heroes" and looking for cheap publicity whereas the opposition members wanted it to cover the entire day's proceedings.

After what happened, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the trial live telecast of 30 minutes of the question-and-answer (Q & A)session may be reviewed because he felt several Opposition MPs attempted to seek cheap publicity by raising trivial issues during the maiden broadcast.

The (Q & A) session in the Dewan Rakyat, which began its sitting Wednesday, was disrupted for almost an hour when several members of parliament, particularly from the opposition, raised questions on the meeting procedures, causing only three questions to be able to be answered when normally it is about 10.

Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal said: "I believe the telecasts are for the good and it will give the opportunity for the people to know the true nature of their elected representatives whom they deem heroes and have placed high hopes on."

"Some of them have been there for two or three terms but are still unable to behave," Shafie, who is the MP for Semporna, told reporters at Parliament's lobby.

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