Local councils have taken over the role of backbenchers --
Local councils have taken over the role of backbenchers, and this may be one of the reasons why so many MPs, over the years, have felt the need to look for different ways of voicing their opinion, among them by going public with their reservations on policies to be adopted by their own party, Josie Muscat told The Malta Independent on Sunday.
Sarawak backbenchers are in a better position to defend government policies because the Barisan Nasional secured two-thirds majority in the 71-member state legislative assembly, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Thursday.