BN and DAP lawmakers have backed Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia's call to reform Parliament, calling for the revival of the Parliament Service Act 1963 (PSA) to protect the legislative body's autonomy and independence.

"We want the speaker to lead the reformation process, we have Pandikar's backing," said Shahrir Samad, the chairperson of BN Backbenchers Club.

"We want him to set up an eminent persons working group, to rope in the expertise of law practitioners," Shahrir told a press conference in the Parliament lobby.

He said the group would get feedback from the public and MPs so that Parliament would be revived as an independent body and be free from the executive.

According to the Johor Bahru MP, Parliament once enjoyed autonomy under PSA, where the legislative body drafted the bills and ran its own administration.

However, PSA was repealed in 1992 when former prime minister Dr Mohamad Mahathir was in power.

Since then, the post of a minister overseeing Parliament's affairs was created.

Following this, Shahrir said, there was a requirement for a Parliament Department and director-general as the minister needed a team to manage the August House.

This, he added, marked the beginning of the challenge to Parliament's independence.

"We need PSA back," he stressed.

Shahrir also opined that Parliament sets up a second chamber so the MPs and ministers can deal with issues concerning their constituencies.

Shahidan must resign

 

Agreeing with him, Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) called for the PSA to be reinstated.

Loke ( photo ) criticised Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim's refusal to revive the PSA.

Referring to the written reply to him yesterday from the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, Loke said Shahidan's reasoning turned Malaysia into a laughing stock.

The minister had answered that PSA was repealed to allow staff and officers of the Parliament to expand their careers.

"This shows the government has no political will to reinstate the autonomy of the Parliament," Loke said.

He said that since Pandikar wanted the minister post abolished, Shahidan should resign.

"Pandikar has no confidence in him, so Shahidan should resign," Loke added.

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