ALOR SETAR, March 13 (Bernama) -- The increase in the number of independent members of parliament to seven will provide a new check-and-balance situation in the Dewan Rakyat when it convenes from this Monday.

Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said the opposition'a role in Parliament had become increasingly ineffective as they were only criticising or making comments only for personal and not the people's interests.

"All matters that had been criticised, commented on or raised in parliament by the opposition had been politicised for personal interests although they claimed it was for the people," he said after visiting children with Down's Syndrome at the Kedah Down's Syndrome Association's centre, here, today.

Mukhriz, who is also International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, said the bigger number of independent MPs would create a good situation of check and balance as they would not be siding any party.

"They are free to use the platform to champion the people's cause instead of airing their political sentiments," he said of the new seating arrangement for the independent MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

The independent MPs include Datuk Seri Mohd Zahrain Hashim (Bayan Baru), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) and Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Bagan Serai) who all recently quit PKR, and Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim Bandar Baharu) who was sacked from the party.

Earlier, Mukhriz said parents with children with Down's Syndrome should not feel ashamed of their condition but to bring them to the Down's Syndrome centres for them to learn living skills and mingle with other children.

Mukhriz, who is patron of the Down's Syndrome Association of Malaysia, also advised women to marry young so as to avoid the risk of giving birth to babies with Down's Syndrome if they marry late.