LETTER | As a concerned citizen of Malaysia, I am writing to offer a suggestion that I believe could foster greater citizen engagement and participation in the parliamentary democratic process.

My proposal involves enabling ordinary people like myself to pose questions, suggestions, and criticism directly to the prime minister and the government in Parliament.

Undeniably, public trust in government institutions like the Parliament is crucial for a vibrant democracy.

Transparency, accountability, and responsiveness are essential components of this trust.

However, I feel that there is often a significant gap between the people and their elected representatives, leading to a sense of detachment, disengagement and frustration with the parliamentary democratic process.

This can be seen in the social media backlash against statements by certain elected representatives.

To bridge this gap, it is imperative to provide a platform for ordinary citizens to express their concerns and opinions directly.

I propose the establishment of a Prime Minister’s Question Time with the people dedicated to facilitating citizen participation in the parliamentary democratic process.

Prime Minister’s Question Time with the people allows any public member to submit questions, suggestions, and criticism directly to the prime minister and the relevant government ministries in Parliament and broadcast in mainstream media if necessary.

To ensure fairness and efficiency and reduce redundancy, a team of government officials could review and categorise the submissions before being presented in Parliament.

People’s voices heard

Additionally, periodic updates on the government's response to the submissions should be provided to demonstrate that citizens' voices are being heard and acknowledged.

By enabling ordinary citizens to engage directly with the prime minister and the government, we can strengthen the democratic fabric of our nation.

This opportunity would serve as a crucial conduit for feedback, suggestions, and criticism by providing a mechanism for citizens to hold their elected government accountable.

It will also foster a culture of transparency and responsiveness within the government.

I understand that implementing such a system would require careful planning and allocation of resources.

However, I firmly believe that the benefits of citizen empowerment, increased public trust, and improved governance outweigh the associated costs.

I am confident that by working collaboratively, we can develop an effective mechanism that enables meaningful citizen participation and contribution to the betterment of our beloved nation.

AUGUSTINE CHEWA RAJA is the founder-CEO of Sivaji Foundation, dedicated to building a better Malaysia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.