KUALA LUMPUR – A report on Parliament’s transformation will be submitted to the cabinet soon for endorsement, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
In a statement today, he said a joint committee involving Parliament and his ministry will also be formed to ensure the various proposals discussed in relation to the matter can be executed swiftly, as agreed on during his talks with Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun yesterday.
“I am indeed happy to inform that both the Senate president and Dewan Rakyat speaker took the proposals positively, and are prepared to take on the lead role in transforming our Parliament.”
He said the three main issues discussed were the reintroduction of the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 to give independence to Parliament; creating a new act to replace the Houses of Parliament Privileges and Powers Act 1952 (revised 1988); and, making more amendments to the Standing Orders and Rules of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.
Wan Junaidi said the move to revive the Parliamentary Services Act to give independence to Parliament is consistent with the action taken in other countries.
This is based on Article 62 (Parliamentary Procedure) and Article 63 (Privileges of Parliament) under the federal constitution, he said.
On the proposal to create a new act of Parliament, he said the current law must be replaced.
“This law was created in 1952, under the 1952 parliamentary environment. It was not even a parliamentary environment as it was created while Malaya was under the Federal Agreement 1948. The existing act is obsolete and outdated, and no longer suitable for the political landscape of the 21st century.”
Instead of amending the law, he said, it is better to come up with a new act of Parliament that is more comprehensive, inclusive and complete.
“This is also to follow what is currently being done by most Commonwealth countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.”
On making amendments to the Standing Orders and Rules of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, he said this is crucial to suit the proposed new act of Parliament and the reintroduction of the Parliamentary Services Act.
“While there have been amendments made from time to time, many of these rules are a relic of the Federal Agreement, which was amended in 1956 for the independence of Malaya in 1957.
“It was further amended in 1959 to create a basis for the Standing Orders and Rules of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat. However, many of these rules are unable to accommodate many modern things in Parliament.”
Wan Junaidi said many Commonwealth countries have made the necessary amendments to Parliament rules and procedures to suit the current times.
“In our quest for parliamentary reform, it is crucial to make more changes and improvements to the rules that may no longer be suitable in today’s environment. The amendments should also focus on efforts to empower the parliamentary committee.” – Bernama, September 3, 2021
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