KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said democracy is not just about voting, but about leaders being accountable to the people at all times.
He also said that every government and parliamentarian must uphold the Constitution and respect citizens’ right to question them.
“Whatever you do, you must honour the spirit of the Constitution, your oath of office and the right of citizens to question,” he said in his keynote address at the 46th Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly today.
The gathering in Kuala Lumpur, from Sept 16 to 22, brings together parliamentarians from Asean member states to discuss regional cooperation under the theme “Parliaments at the Forefront for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable ASEAN.”
Also present were AIPA President and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and AIPA Secretary-General Siti Rozaimeriyanty Datuk Haji Abdul Rahman.
Malaysia is the current chair of the 10-member Asean bloc.
Anwar also said that democracy is not just about elections every few years, but about a system where the ruling party can be questioned, criticised and held accountable by the public.
“Democracy is not just about elections every four or five years. It is about a system that allows the ruling party to be questioned and criticised,” he said.
Anwar said recent developments in the region had shown that citizens were no longer willing to accept leaders who acted to entrench their own power or privileges instead of serving the people.
Without naming any country, he described the events as ‘quite a shock’, saying the recent developments had put both governments and parliaments on guard.
“Parliamentarians today are being questioned — whether they use their influence for the better benefit of citizens, or simply to entrench themselves.
“The past few weeks have shown that people will not stay silent when leaders forget their responsibilities,” he said.
Anwar added that social media had amplified scrutiny, giving citizens — especially youth — greater access to political developments.
While this increased transparency, he warned it also carried risks if not balanced with responsible leadership.
“There are times people can be misled. Notwithstanding that, our duty is to honour our commitment and our oath of office to the best of our ability,” he said.
He also praised parliamentary speakers for upholding standards of accountability, reminding delegates that even the prime minister was bound by their authority in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Whatever power I may have as prime minister, when I am in the House, I am fully subjected to the Speaker’s decision.
“And I must tell you, although the Speaker is my friend, there are many decisions I personally do not like or agree with,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
