Letters | 2 lessons Malaysia can learn from dropping of citizenship plan
- Readers discuss how Malaysia can improve the legislative process, and India’s aspirations to developed economy status
There are two lessons the government can learn.
First, public consultation is imperative. Laws and regulations cannot be rashly imposed, particularly where the law adversely affects certain groups. Public consultation should include the publication of drafts of the proposed clauses for consultation with those likely to be affected by them.
If the government is serious about institutional reform, it must ensure parliament plays the role of not only a lawmaking but also a law-scrutiny body through select committees that help make better legislation.
There should be pre-legislative scrutiny, which is the detailed examination of an early draft of a bill by a parliamentary select committee before the final version is drawn up by the government.
Pre-legislative scrutiny has been introduced in Westminster parliaments like the Malaysian parliament to strengthen the capacity of the legislature to engage more fully and effectively in the legislative process – that is, to strengthen the capacity for legislative scrutiny. In his study of pre-legislative scrutiny in the Irish context, Dr Shane Martin noted that “parliament is perceived as being relatively weak and ineffective in terms of law-making, with the Government dominating the lawmaking process”.
Pre-legislative scrutiny can lead to more considered, better legislation.
Mohamad Hafiz Bin Hassan, lecturer, Faculty of Law, Multimedia University, Malaysia
India needs inflation plan, not developed economy dreams
The Indian government and some economists are talking about India becoming a developed economy by 2047. India is expected to become a US$30 trillion economy by then from US$3.7 trillion currently. As an ordinary citizen, I cannot see this happening.
Meanwhile, the price of milk, flour and even lemons increased sharply in the last few years. Is there a plan to reduce the price of essentials so that life becomes reasonably liveable in the next few years?
Rajendra Aneja, Mumbai
