Cabinet To Decide On Dewan Rakyat Telecast Tomorrow - Bernama

BIDOR, May 1 (Bernama) -- The Cabinet will make a decision tomorrow on whether to continue with live telecasts of Dewan Rakyat proceedings, said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Chik.

"I will raise the matter at tomorrow's Cabinet meeting. Hopefully it can be resolved then," he told reporters after attending an "An Evening With The Minister" programme organised by Bidor Umno here today.

"The government's decision to have the telecasts was because we sincerely want to serve the people...the Cabinet meetings were also moved to Fridays to enable ministers to be present to provide answers but it has not been appreciated," he said.

Asked if by continuing (the telecasts) it would show the true colors of the MPs, Ahmad Shabery said:" Maybe for Umno people they will feel it is something good as it will show the quality of the opposition representatives the people have elected.

"But for me as the Information Minister, I am not only responsible for Umno but all Malaysians and must do what is in the best interests of the country," he said, adding that to continue with the telecasts might lead to more negative repercussions especially if the image of the august house continued to be smeared.

"I know what happened is good for the media as "bad news is good news" but is this what we want of our Parliament. People like to watch a circus and they do not mind seeing our Parliament acting like one, but being a responsible government, we must stay away from such things," he added.

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