Allocate budget for shadow cabinet, says lecturer

PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government should recognise and provide special budget allocation for the shadow cabinet which has been formed by Barisan Nasional (BN), law lecturer Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow (pix) said today.
The PH government must put aside all the political differences and behave more gentlemanly and professionally by recognising the existence as well as supporting the shadow cabinet, he said.
"Special budget allocation needs to be given by the government to all appointed shadow cabinet members yearly in order to allow them to do all the research needed in exercising their basic duties and responsibilities to supervise and to do all the check and balance process for the ruling government," the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) senior lecturer said in a statement today.
"By having shadow cabinet, it will make the Opposition's task much easier especially when it comes to parliamentary Questions and Answers (Q & A) sessions and parliamentary debate sessions."
He pointed out that there is no specific law or regulations which talks about the formation of shadow cabinet in the country.
"In fact, no formal recognition has been given by the government since the country gained its independence on shadow cabinet," Muzaffar said.
"The shadow cabinet is basically a feature of the Westminster system of government.
"It consists of a senior group of opposition spokespeople who, under the leadership of the leader of the opposition, form an alternative cabinet to that of the existing government and whose members shadow or mirror the positions of each individual member of the Cabinet."
Muzaffar said it is the shadow cabinet's main duties and responsibility to scrutinise all the policies and actions taken by the government, as well to offer an alternative policies and actions of their own.
"In Canada, however, the term 'opposition critic' is more often been used," he said. "In New Zealand, the term 'spokesperson' is used instead of 'shadow'. Members of a shadow cabinet are also often but not always been appointed to a cabinet post if and when their party forms government.
"Having no law in place for the formation of shadow cabinet, the current Malaysian government should take a bold step first to recognise the existence of shadow cabinet in the country if it is formed soon and make such shadow cabinet as part of our country democratic institution forever."