Visit to New Zealand

By

HE Dato’ Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusof

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Dewan Rakyat

MALAYSIA

22-27 June 2019

Visit to New Zealand by HE Dato’ Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusof,

Speaker of the House of Representatives/ Dewan Rakyat

Malaysia

22-27 June 2019

Introduction

The visit to New Zealand by the Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives had as its purpose, to advance and strengthen cooperation with Malaysia on its parliamentary and electoral reform agenda.

This visit followed the change of government in Malaysia with the Pakatan Harapan coalition of four parties, taking office in May 2018.

The delegation comprised HE Dato’ Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusof, Speaker; Hon Dato’ Haji Mohd Rashid bin Hasnon MP, Deputy Speaker; Hon Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew, MP for Wangsa Maju; Hon Charles Santiago, MP for Klang; Hon Dato’ Sri Dr Santhara Kumar s/o Ramanaidu, MP for Segamat; Hon Datuk Roosme binti Hamzah, Secretary of the House of Representatives and Muttanna bin Shaari, Secretary of the delegation.

Rt Hon Trevor Mallard MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, meeting with HE Dato’ Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusof

Meetings at Parliament

Arrival at Parliament.

with Kura Moeahu,

Tumu Whakarae,

Parliament Principal Cultural

Adviser

Meetings with Parliamentarians started with an Official Meeting with Mr Speaker, Rt Hon Trevor Mallard and, over lunch, discussions with members of the NZ/South-Southeast Asia Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG).

The Malaysian Speaker met with Deputy Speaker Anne Tolley MP who escorted him to the House of Representatives to be accorded Left of Chair as he and the delegation were introduced.

Later in the afternoon, the delegation met with Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs. They discussed bilateral relations as well as the New Zealand electoral system and coalition government.

Mr Speaker hosted an official dinner in the evening which included New Zealand MPs Melissa Lee, Maureen Pugh and Duncan Webb; and Andrew Needs, Manager, South/Southeast Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Conversations centred on Malaysian parliamentary reform and the way Parliament works in New Zealand.

Delegation with Mr Speaker Rt Hon Trevor Mallard MP; Delegation with PFG members, pictured Melissa Lee MP, Louisa

Wall MP, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, Greg O’Connor MP and Michael Wood MP.

David Bagnall, Principal Clerk, Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, provided the delegation with a briefing on the New Zealand voting system, MMP: Mixed Member Proportional, and on parliamentary procedures.

On Wednesday, the delegation met with the Governance and Administration Select Committee to discuss the operations of select committees and then observe the Committee in action. They then observed the Māori Affairs Select Committee when the Committee was hearing from Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon Andrew Little MP. This was followed by lunch with members of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee. Later in the afternoon, the delegation met with Hon Todd McClay and Hon Gerry Brownlee, the outgoing and just appointed Opposition Spokespersons for Foreign Affairs where they discussed bilateral relations with Malaysia and Southeast Asia regional matters.

Delegation with Hon Andrew Little MP and with members of Governance and Administration Committee left to right:

Jian Yang MP Jamie Strange MP, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, Brett Hudson MP Chairperson; Raymond Huo MP,

Ginny Andersen MP, Deputy Chairperson; Paul Eagle MP. Absent from photo: Jacqui Dean MP.

Delegation with members of the Foreign affairs, Defence and Trade Committee left to right: Ed Siebert, Committee Clerk;

Hon Tim MacIndoe MP, Deputy Committee Chairperson; Simon O’Connor MP, Chairperson; Priyanca Radhakrishnan MP;

Paulo Garcia MP.

Mr Speaker, Rt Hon Trevor Mallard MP with the delegation, the Malaysian High Commissioner HE Nur Izzah Wong Mee

Choo, and NZ MPs present for the Official Dinner: Melissa Lee MP, Duncan Webb MP and Maureen Pugh MP

Datuk Roosme, Secretary to the Malaysian House of Representatives with the NZ Clerk David Wilson, Deputy Clerk Suze

Jones and Delegation Secretary Muthanna; Deputy Speaker Hon Anne Tolley MP with Assistant Speakers Poto Williams MP

and Adrian Rurawhe MP with the Malaysian Speaker; Hon Anne Tolley MP with Deputy Speaker Dato’ Haji Mohd Rashid

and the Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand, HE Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo.

The Malaysian Speaker gave a video report reflecting on the visit: https://youtu.be/3DL-E32X11s

Delegation with the Malaysian High Commissioner, outside the New Zealand Parliament.

Meetings outside Parliament

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the delegation met with Ben King, Deputy Secretary, Americas and Asia Group and Andrew Needs, Manager, South/Southeast Asia Division to discuss bilateral relations, Malaysia and the visit.

The delegation were provided with briefings and experiences on the New Zealand creative and film industry (Weta Workshop), Māori culture (Museum of New Zealand/Te Papa Tongarewa), Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.

They also met with members of the Malaysian community and Malaysian students in Wellington.

Conclusion.

The Malaysian Speaker, Dato’ Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusof and his delegation, were able to have series of informative conversations with New Zealand Members of Parliament, and others, to inform them about the New Zealand parliamentary and electoral systems. They were also able to discuss parliamentary and political developments in each country. With their Wellington-based programme, the delegation was able to gather further insights into New Zealand history, community and creative industry.

The visit promoted New Zealand and Malaysia parliamentary engagement at a time when Malaysia is enacting and considering a number of parliamentary reforms after a recent change of government and with a newly appointed Speaker.

Programme

Saturday 22 June Sunday 23 June

Arrival in New Zealand Meeting with Malaysian Community and Malaysian Students .

Monday 24 June

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park Weta Workshop Museum of New Zealand/ Te Papa Tongarewa Meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Meeting Secretary to the Malaysian House of Representatives with the Clerk and Deputy Clerk, New Zealand House of Representatives Welcome Dinner - Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand

Tuesday 25 June

Mihi Whakatau – Parliament Meeting with Rt Hon Trevor Mallard MP, Speaker Tour of Parliament Meeting with David Bagnall, Principal Clerk, Office of the Clerk Lunch with members of the NZ-South/Southeast Asia Parliamentary Friendship Group Malaysian Speaker with Deputy Speaker, Hon Anne Tolley Introduction to the House and Observation of Question Time Meeting with Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs; Disarmament and Arms Control; Regional Economic Development; Deputy Leader, New Zealand First Party

Official Dinner - Rt Hon Trevor Mallard MP, Speaker

Wednesday 26 June

Meeting with and observation of the Governance and Administration Select Committee Tour of Parliamentary Library Observation of Māori Affairs Select Committee Lunch with members of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Meeting with Hon Todd McClay MP and Hon Gerry Brownlee MP, Opposition Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Informal Dinner

Thursday 27 June

Departure

Delegation

Dato’ Mohamad Ariff bin Mhd Yusof Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat of Malaysia since 16 July 2018 Independent

Dato’ Mohd Rashid Hasnon MP Deputy Speaker, Member of Parliament Batu Pahat (2018), Johor; People’s Justice Party (PKR) in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Coalition Former Deputy Chief Minister, Penang

Charles Santiago MP Member of Parliament Klang, Selangor (2008), Johor; Democratic Action Party (DAP) ) in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Coalition

Chairman, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

Chairman National Water Services Commission

Datin Paduka Dr Tab Yee Kew MP Member of Parliament Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur (2018),People’s Justice Party (PKR), ) in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Coalition

Dato' Sri Dr. Santhara Member of Parliament Segamat, Johor (2018), People’s Justice Party (PKR) in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Coalition

Mrs Datuk Rosmee binte Hamzah

Secretary (Clerk), Dewan Rakyat/ House of

Representatives

Muthanna bin Shaari

Delegation Secretary

Research Officer, Parliament of Malaysia