Ethnicity, Partisanship, and Legislative Activity in Malaysia

Abstract

This is a study of the patterns of participation by Members of Parliament in Malaysia in debate on the Supply Bill and the Question Hour in three legislative sessions. Variations of participation are explained in terms of MPs' ethnic backgrounds and partisan affiliations. It is found that MPs in Malaysia made extensive use of the debate on the Supply Bill and the Question Hour, with the latter activity increasing significantly over time. The highest level of participation, particularly in raising questions, was found among the opposition MPs. Among the opposition Members, but not among the Government backbenchers, the MPs belonging to racial minorities were most active. The British parliamentary system has been transplanted to many of the nations that were formerly British colonies, but the institutions and procedures that worked so well in London have not inevitably or consistently been successful in other countries. This is a study of two important parliamentary procedures, debate on the Supply Bill and the Question Hour, as they have developed in Malaysia. In any country where parliamentary institutions are new, a major question is whether Members of Parliament (MPs) will have opportunities to debate policies and to question and criticize the government, and whether the MPs will use such opportunities effectively. The fact that parliamentary rules permit such procedures does not mean that the Government will allow much time for debate and questions, or that the norms of parliament or of the party or parties will encourage MPs to engage in such activities. Moreover, if the Government remains unresponsive to points raised in debate or questions, the members may eventually abandon their efforts to make use of these procedures. A starting point in evaluating these parliamentary procedures in Malaysia is a simple quantitative study of the extent of their use by various groups of Members. MPs can make a valuable contribution to the legislative process and to fair and efficient administration by taking an active part in such parliamentary forums as debate on the Supply Bill and Question Hour. As a prime form of deliberation, debates help to contribute to the management of conflict (Jewell and Patterson, 1973, p. 7). The debate on the annual Supply Bill in Malaysia is the single most important and continuous event in the