The Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) is a platform for parliament speakers and officers from Commonwealth countries to voice their opinions, share views and discuss latest global issues, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
He said parliament speakers and officers from Commonwealth countries could bring forward issues for the attention of members countries including matters relating to the environment, drugs, human trafficking, money laundering and lately, security.
"Every Parliament in the world now gives specialisation to frienship ties. The link between Parliaments is strengthened by current issues as they need to be discussed," he said at a media conference on the 23rd CSPOC here tonight.
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat posing together with officials and those involved after the opening ceremony rehearsal
Pandikar also said Malaysia would voice its principles and stand on various global issues at the conference because the country practised democracy but then what was practised in other countries might not be practised in Malaysia.
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat observe Bajau woven fabric demonstrations on display in the lobby of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly
On the 23rd CSPOC, Pandikar said Malaysia was the 13th Commonwealth country to organise the conference and this was the second time an Asian country became host after India.
He said the conference would be attended by 48 speakers and the Commonwealth Parliamentary gathering would be held from Jan 9 to 14, here.
Sabah which was chosen as host would display the various cultures and ethnic groups as well as the natural uniqueness of the state to all delegates, he said.
Pandikar will also be delivering a paper entitled 'The Challengers Facing the Independence of Speakers' at the conference.
Datuk Awang Alik, Chief Administrator of the Parliament of Malaysia during the rehearsal session of ‘Usunan’ Parade in Sabah State Legislative Assembly
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