YB. R.S.N RAYER - A.D.U.N. SERI DELIMA, PENANG

PENANG: Public outcry over the unruly first sitting of Parliament is unwarranted as sessions should be robust and peppered with spirit, Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh said.

He said one of the dullest places on Earth was Parliament except for the occasional exchanges between the Opposition and Barisan Nasional MPs.
"We need a Parliament which is robust. Lively exchanges and repartee enliven what would otherwise be mundane and dull proceedings," said the DAP chairman who has been an MP for 26 years.

He added that proceedings in Parliament used to resemble "reading lessons" until the Standing Orders of Parliament were recently amended to remove reading speeches in Parliament.
"The public would not want to have live telecasts of dull and dry proceedings. As long as there are certain parameters, acceptable repartee should be encouraged," Karpal Singh said in a press statement.

He expressed surprise that Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek had threatened to discontinue live half-hour telecasts of Parliament proceedings due to the disorderly first episode.
"With regards to the comments I have received, the live telecast has been welcomed by the grassroots of society.
"It is the upper crust of society which has raised eyebrows over the episode," said Karpal Singh who labelled this group "arm-chair critics".