Mediation and a healthier Parliament are two things that stood out in the past two years under Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s tenure as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.
In an exclusive interview with The Star, Johari shared that he prioritises diplomacy by engaging with MPs and offering advice, reserving formal warnings only when necessary rather than expelling errant members from the August House.
His tenure has also introduced notable health initiatives, including mandatory medical check-ups for all MPs and designating Wednesdays as a sugar-free drinks day in Parliament.
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In an exclusive interview with The Star, Johari shared that he prioritises diplomacy by engaging with MPs and offering advice, reserving formal warnings only when necessary rather than expelling errant members from the August House.
His tenure has also introduced notable health initiatives, including mandatory medical check-ups for all MPs and designating Wednesdays as a sugar-free drinks day in Parliament.
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
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NewsTranscript
00:00To be honest, in these two years we hardly see MPs getting voted out compared to the previous years, and you have taken a different approach. So, has it been working so far?
00:14Well, as I said, I was an MP myself for 15 years, and most of those MPs I know. And I know also their intention of sometimes over-acting because of the camera, trying to show to the people that they were the heroes here.
00:31I can understand. But eventually, I think they think harsh, even though I do warn them, but I think it's good that I call them as the person that I know.
00:46Man-to-man talk for them to know. I say, it's not going to be good if you proceed with this. Why don't you do this? So they understand. But if you cross the red line, I'll get you out.
01:00So far, well, of course some people feel that I'm a bit soft. But I guess it would be good to understand also if I won't get them out for six months.
01:17You know, the constituency just left without MPs for six months. That's why you see Pendang, I'll just give you ten days. But I call for the security. Don't do that anymore. Because, I mean, that shook the people.
01:34Because if it's too harsh, I don't think he might not even learn any lesson at all. But then the pursuants lose his way. That's what I'm saying. But I guess the best thing to do is just call them, talk to them.
01:52Or advise whoever don't agree with them, put a motion, and we call them. They've got to appear before the committee to explain. That's the way to try to narrow down the whole situation. Of course, there'll be no excitement. But I cannot be pushing people out.
02:12I have to take it. It doesn't look good. I'm changing the strategy. But nevertheless, it doesn't mean that I compromise on this place. Those who don't toe the line, certainly action must be taken against them.
02:26Well, you can't run, because we have specific agenda. We have tasks to be fulfilled. You can't entertain these kind of schemes, which are created by them. As I told them, I was there for 15 years. I know sometimes you fight, but I don't believe in business. Then what? Then you go out and have a drink.
02:52You've announced a few initiatives to make Parliament healthy. Medical check-up, war on sugar, and now I think people have to walk to come to this meeting. How is this coming along?
03:11Very good. I guess, number one, I think people are quite receptive, and the response is good. No sugar is good. Many MPs now feel that it was a right move to cut down sugar and stuff like that.
03:41But I guess everyone follows that you have to have a medical check-up. Because some MPs fear those medical check-ups, because they don't want to know what the hell is going on in their body. So now, they tell me, they say, my God, I know I have big problem. I know tomorrow is very busy.
04:00But the most important thing, the check-up is one thing, but I want the medical report, whatever it is, with the inner custodian of tomorrow's Parliamentary meeting. So anything happens to me here, then we know what's going on.
04:18I remember when I was there as an MP, close to 11, 12 MPs collapsed, and some died. We have no record. Too late to do anything, because the record's not there. And as you know, in medical field, you need a record. You simply cannot jab a person without knowing what's going on.
04:41So the record is very important. Now, Alhamdulillah, tomorrow, you can have your medical check-up in Penang. But doctor, then we send the medical report here. Then we have inner custody of Parliament. So by doing that, we know how many percent are not doing well, how many percent are okay.
05:02So when one person stands up, and I know this gentleman, I don't give him pressure. I give him a bit of pressure, and he collapses. So we know what's going on. At the same time, yeah, I could call them and give them advice, do some exercise.
05:20How? You walk. Park from there, and you walk. At least you walk for five minutes, ten minutes. Because here, fully a con. You drive in a con car. You go back to sleep in a con room. So you don't have time to do that. So exercise is very important. You've got to be religiously following the schedule.
05:46If half an hour, I do that every day, without fail. Because I don't believe. I mean, you are trapped here. And sometimes you go back late. Saturday, Sunday, we are still in the office. I don't have a constituency. But they do, yeah, makan-makan, makan-kenuri, all this. Kidding you.