PM’s Questions a boon for transparency, accountability: observers

[superadmin]

KUALA LUMPUR – The government is taking positive steps towards better accountability and transparency by establishing a new convention for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to regularly answer three queries during Prime Minister’s Questions and Answers (PMQs), say observers.

During PMQs, parliamentarians will be able to hear directly from the prime minister for an hour every Tuesday at the first meeting of the second session of the 15th Parliament, Anwar said yesterday morning.

However, the standard Minister’s Question Time for cabinet members will be held every Thursday.

Ong Ooi Heng, a parliamentary affairs researcher, said the newly introduced convention shows that the government has the political will to implement parliamentary reforms, including better accountability on the part of the prime minister who will directly answer questions regarding his administration’s policies or decisions.

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