Pandikar Amin Mulia has lamented that the upgrades he sought have not been implemented despite having taken up the post seven years ago.

"All these upgrades are my vows when I took office in 2008. Now after seven years if I can't do it, better I just leave," he told reporters at his official residence in Kuala Lumpur today.

Among the transformations the Dewan Rakyat speaker wanted was the abolishment of the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs post, currently held by Shahidan Kassim ( photo ).

He said the move would help restore faith in his independence as the house speaker.

"This is to make sure that the public did not see the speaker as only following instructions from the executive body, this is against the separation of powers doctrine," he added.

Pandikar also commented on the condition of his office since former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad cited the shabby furniture as one of the reasons for the speaker deciding to quit.

The speaker said Parliament needed to be upgraded as it housed the 222 "cream of the crop" leaders who spearhead the country's system.

"If the executive has Putrajaya, and the judiciary has Palace of Justice, why not parliament?" he asked.

Parliamentary Bill committee

Pandikar said he also suggested to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that the Parliamentary Bill committee be introduced.

This, he added, was to enhance and refine a Bill before it is brought to the parliament table which would speed up the process of tabling it.

Another suggestion was to allocate "minister time" to allow MPs to ask ministers regarding current affairs as practiced by the parliaments in developed countries.

He said he gave Najib "reasonable time" to implement the suggestions and threatened to resign if not implemented.

Pandikar held the press conference to clear the air about his

"resignation" after it was raised by Mahathir last Saturday.

The speaker explained that he did tender his resignation but decided to remain in the post after Najib promised to transform Parliament.