ABU DHABI // After a long and demanding session in the FNC, it is not unusual to find Sultan Al Shamsi with his hand in the air.
Known as the “session dragger”, Mr Al Shamsi, 40, has yet to be swayed by fellow members’ disapproval of his regular interventions in debates, even during a marathon 10-hour session.
“Often members are displeased with these,” he says. “But the beginning of a law is just as important as its end.
“My motive is that I have come all the way from my home. I prepare for every session and take notes of the remarks I would like to make.”
The lawyer, who topped the ballots in Ajman at the 2011 election, has put his practice on hold until he finishes his FNC term.
“To be successful in parliament you need to be completely and solely dedicated to its work,” Mr Al Shamsi says. “What makes me successful is that I am free for the parliamentary work.”
He says all members should devote themselves entirely to their council responsibilities – even though the law allows them to keep their outside jobs – as their regular employment can detract from their performance.
On the council, Mr Al Shamsi is the deputy head of the legal and legislative committee.
This is one of the reasons why he wanted a seat on the FNC.
“As a legal practitioner, I wanted to join the FNC for its supervision and legislative role, plus there were some demands that needed to reach decision-makers,” he says.
One of the laws Mr Al Shamsi believed needed swift amendment was the companies law, which was revamped this year, and the law covering legal practice, which has yet to reach the council. “Thankfully, my communication with people has helped me, before joining the FNC and after,” he says. “I did not promise people anything because I was aware of the FNC’s power.”
Mr Al Shamsi admits that he and others mistakenly thought that with the 20-fold expansion of the electoral college in 2011, the legislative council’s powers would also be increased.
But he says he was pleasantly surprised with its capabilities.
“We worked to exhaust all the council’s powers, whether through directing questions to ministers or summoning them.”
In the past three years, Mr Al Shamsi says, the Government has been most welcoming to the council’s recommendations.
“We have had a large pool of work – a huge timetable and many draft laws,” he says.
“The experience has been beneficial to me.
“I learnt about the stages of law-making and learnt from other parliaments’ experience.”
While pleased with the current pace of work, he says increasing the number of councillors could be beneficial.
“If in one session five are absent, then there are not many members left,” Mr Al Shamsi says.
“It would be good to bring in more expertise.
“The council’s strength comes from its diversity.”
osalem@thenational.ae
