The cheek!
Why are they calling it ‘Question Hour’ when the duration being telecast live is only 30 minutes? *face palms*
KUALA LUMPUR: The 30-minute live telecast of “Question Hour” will be extended to the full 90 minutes if there is demand, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said yesterday.
“We are prepared for this and we have put in place the infrastructure,” he said yesterday after visiting parliament to inspect the facilities for the live telecast.
“We don’t want it to distract people from work.”
Ahmad Shabery conceded that some MPs might use the opportunity to attack the government.
“There may be some who will play to the gallery. We have to take the risk. When you talk about openness, it is like opening the floodgates… some rubbish is bound to come through.”
Asked if the telecast would be sponsored by the private sector, he said this was up to RTM.
He said RTM had placed three cameras in the House at a cost of RM1 million, instead of depending on the in-house closed circuit television cameras, for better visuals.
He declined to give the total cost of the live telecast.
My two sen?
I have watched the British equivalent to this so-called ‘Question Hour’ when I was in UK. It is called BBC Parliament and it is a dedicated channel for parliament enthusiasts. Trust me, only the extremely bored homemaker with nothing else better to watch on telly will turn to that channel. To even imply that people will be distracted from work because of this ‘Question (half an) Hour’ is ludicrous! Dear minister, I humbly beg that you stop taking the rakyat for fools and stop being so condescending on those who genuinely want to watch the live telecast with the sincerest of intentions.
Does the minister not see why people are demanding to watch parliamentary sessions live? It is because we’ve lived in a country where secrets and shadows are prevalent. Transparency stops on the road leading to Parliament where we can see our elected reps enter the august house but we don’t know what he or she is doing. Our elected reps are voted in by us and they are being paid by us so for all intents and purposes we have a right to see what they are doing in parliament that is worthy of votes again!
Of course if he means that we will be distracted because we will finally get a chance to witness the antics that our parliamentarians get up to, then I can understand why he said it would distract people from work. True enough, it is rather entertaining to watch our politicians call each other names and having the Speaker decide on pointless motions that have little bearing on Malaysian lives over serious national issues. But that’s besides the point.
The minister also says, “There may be some who will play to the gallery. We have to take the risk. When you talk about openness, it is like opening the floodgates… some rubbish is bound to come through.” I absolutely agree with him. Some will use it to their best political mileage. I won’t be surprised if we see product placements, advertisements etc when RTM is airing it. I am unclear whether the rubbish will come from the Pakatan or Barisan but I would most certainly bet my bottom dollar on the latter :) This is sound judgment based on past experience of course. The same guys will always make the same noise and spew the same filth. But hey prove me wrong! I guess Uncle Kit can chillax this time round as there are more people to help him out. He should enjoy the sessions and let the young ones learn. Of course he’s welcomed to show ‘em how it’s done :)
And what is this RM1 million being spent to pay RTM and their three cameras in the House? RM1-freakin-million!!! I’m consulting professionals on this. RM1 million is too huge a sumf or me to accept :( And the minister declined to give the total cost of the live telecast. So much for ‘openness’.
C’mon people, are we going to give the minister the ‘demand’ he wants? :)
April 28th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
BN MP have always had the lamest excuses of not doing what is right… like this Shabery guy - what does he mean when he say that parliament session will be telecast for full 90 minutes - “when there is demand”? what does he mean by “when there is demand? and how does he rate whether there is demand or not?
parliament session is not a commercial discussion to be based on ROI - you guys are discussing about the future of malaysians - and you guys are voted in by malaysians to plan for a better future for us all so isnt it logical that malaysians should be aware of what you guys are talking about in that august chamber?
whether the rakyat view the live telecast or not is not for you to comment but it is your duty to ensure there is transparency by telecasting it live.
But you think some MP will take the advantage and “attack” the government? Now, this statement is quite loaded mainly maybe because you know the government have a lot to hide and to answer for and that your fellow BN Neanderthals MP would not be able to sustain intelligent debate so you decide that asking for details pertain “suspected” abuse of power or “suspected” abuse of the system is tantamount to an attack on the government? Please-la… give a more credible reason..
and my humble suggestion to your statement: “loodgates… some rubbish is bound to come through: is to remove some toxic spewing foot in mouth patient like Nazri and that Bung guy and you have already cleared up much rubbish and toxic waste.
April 28th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Isn’t the British equivalent of this…Prime Minister’s Questions? (well, it isn’t the same, but at least it’s closer to that) I don’t mind getting that televised to be honest, because it’s a prime chance for the Opposition to attack the Government of the time on issues, broadcasted live on the TV. There are cases where ministers are questioned, but they’re usually ignored most of the time anyway.
Well, personally, I’d be a fan of PM’s Questions, and I don’t think RTM’s implementation is anything near BBC Parliament (24 hrs non-stop on both Houses of Parliament…sometimes watching paint dry is even more exciting)
April 29th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Hi
Yes, you must explore and investigate the cost of RM 1 mill for the 90 min live telecast. Get to the bottom of it! The full costing has to be exposed for approval, no one should be high handed. The Rakyat must be told, if cost is justifiable, why not disclose. Every aspect of project cost be able to take the strictest audit and examination. Do not let this go, check the costing.