Fussing About Extra Working Hours

It has been a tiring week.

Since taking up this new job, I seldom see the sun setting unlike in my previous job. Gone were those days when I exit the carpark and I get to see the bright glaring sun slowly make its way down the western horizon. The plus side is, as I had to work till late nights, I don't have to "fight" with road hogs who somehow concluded his/her ownership of the road on the pretext that his/her grandpa may have either paved or peed on the right most lane of the road.

However, the biggest drawback from taking this new job is that I have less time to read, analyse and write my opinion on what is happening around me. Sorry for the inconsistent posts!

Anyway, as far as I know, employees have limited annual leave days. In fact, a lot of people choose to carry forward their unutilised annual leave days in hope they can get to use it at a future date. Such is the pressure to make a living in the midst of meeting deadlines and trying to earn our monthly keep. So, other than annual leave, rest days and the public holidays, felllow workers have to work at least 8 hours a day, for five days in a week, 52 weeks in a year. Altogether, assuming 20 days allocated for annual leave, 16 days for public holidays and 104 weekend days, that roughly work out to 225 of working days or 7.5 months of work.

Source: http://pro.corbis.com/

Of course, this will not be true to those who have to work on weekends, public holidays and such in hope of earning the extra income. What more those who work more than 8 hours a day to meet deadlines?

Which is why, I am perplexed why should the Star Online even bother to highlight that Parliament sitting throughout the year as though it is a negative thing. Take for instance,

Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this might happen as, more MPs were taking their time to debate and pass the bills in the new Dewan Rakyat.

“For this meeting, we have had to postpone a few bills, which were supposed to be debated, to the next because of time constraints. Maybe we will have to change into a Westminster-style Parliament that sits for the whole year with holidays in between.

Honestly, what is wrong with more MPs taking their time to debate? If a bill is delayed or postponed because the bill has loopholes which need to be addressed, isn't it good to get it right the first time?

"In the west, it’s rare even for the Prime Minister or the Minister to take 30 minutes to deliver his speech. Here, some MPs spoke for two days,” he said, adding that he wished that an MP would restrict himself to just 15 minutes.

Perhaps there many issues required serious attention? Imagine a situation of person raising 50 points why a certain bill affecting the rakyat should be addressed before it is passed. Again, what's wrong with it? Well, I agree if they are long winded, they should summarised their points. But in the case of a debate, policy makers must be fully aware of the responsibilities placed by the rakyat on their shoulders. They should not take the interests of the rakyat lightly!

Again, you and I have to work at least 225 days. How many days do our MPs work? Based on the Parliament of Malaysia website, for 2008, it appears they have to appear in the parliament for a total of 71 days. And sitting throughout the year with holidays in between is a bad thing? Go figure...