He said the ministry was prepared to consider this as well as other suggestions to improve the quality of the telecast, subject to Cabinet approval.
His positive outlook came after he declared to reporters: "I'm happy that today's sitting went without any hitches." This, certainly, in stark contrast to last Wednesday's chaos.
The happy turn of events was also noted by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia who said: "Praise be to God. If everyday the sitting is like today's, I as the speaker am very happy."
He said that unlike Wednesday's commotion, the MPs generally understood and accepted what the people wanted – they should not waste time raising petty issues.
"Hopefully, this will continue. They have listened to my advice and people's feedbacks. When they read in newspapers that this is for the good of the people, then they should consider these views," he said.
Shabery has also been moved enough to consider the possibility of the Dewan Rakyat session be broadcast live over the radio and Internet.
The sitting today managed to deal with eight oral questions during the 90-minute Question Time — four each from government backbenchers and Opposition members – compared to only three on Wednesday.
Pandikar Amin said the people's representatives should make full use of the one-and-a-half hours allocated to ask questions verbally and listen to the reply from the government.
On new MPs who had not understood the House procedure and standing orders, Pandikar Amin said they should follow closely the running of the meeting.
Meanwhile, the DAP, in a statement today, also asked the Information Ministry to extend the live telecast of Question Time to the full one-and-a-half-hours to make the proceedings more meaningful, in line with international norm.
Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong said mature Parliaments such as in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and even South Africa broadcast their entire Question Time segment on television.
"I call on the government, through the Information Minister, to move a motion in Parliament to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee, comprising members from both sides of the divide to study the parameters, measures and methods of parliamentary telecast," he said.
Liew said when the British Parliament decided in principle to telecast its proceedings in 1989, the Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House spent a year to study, plan and implement the move on behalf of Parliament.
"A similar set-up exists in the Australian Parliament in the form of a Joint Committee (of senators and House of Representatives) on the broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings," he added. — Bernama
Thank you YB Shabery Chik for considering to extend the live telecast. He was my former Parliament Secretary in Wisma Putra. Kudos YB!
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