Parliamentarians from both sides came together at the last Parliament session to back the reinstatement of the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA) 1963 in what has been described as a 'historic' moment. The coming session which reconvenes on Monday may also see a similar move once the PSA issue is up for debate.

"The tussle is still on - for the integrity of Parliament," declared Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BBC) head Shahrir Samad when contacted, adding that he will be speaking on the PSA in his speech in the coming Parliament session.

The Johore Bahru MP was asked to comment on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz's statement that the government will not reinstate the PSA. This contradicted with the government's agreement last year to reinstate it.

Nazri, who oversees parliamentary affairs, has quoted Deputy Premier and BN whip Najib Abdul Razak as saying that there was "no compelling reason" for the Act - which would enable Parliament to manage its administrative and financial affairs - to be reinstated.

Last October, MPs led by Shahrir staged a rare show of unity in urging the government to re-enact the PSA which had been repealed in 1992, following a hue and cry over Nazri's attempt to set up a Parliament department, that was later watered down to a single administrative post.

Shahrir also said that Najib had not made a decision on the PSA as there was no consensus reached on the matter in a meeting held between backbenchers and the BN whip last year.

"In the beginning Najib said no (to PSA), but at the end he sounded maybe... The PSA is also needed in the context of the national integrity plan mooted by the Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). Parliament's integrity must be strengthened under the plan," he stressed.

"There is no clear decision yet on this matter. If the cabinet says no, or the prime minister himself says no, then it's a different matter, but we (MPs) have not been told of such a decision so far," added Shahrir.

Malaysian Parliament losing up

The BBC head also disagreed with Nazri's statement that the decision on the PSA is up to the BN whip.

"The whip is only responsible for BN MPs' disciplinary matters and the whip does not represent the opposition parliamentarians," he pointed out.

On his determination to pursue the PSA, the veteran politician said: "Malaysia's parliamentary democracy is one the oldest in this region, but now has taken a back seat in terms of integrity and independence, we are losing up to. for instance. to the Parliaments of Indonesia and Thailand.

Meanwhile, another PSA advocate, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang questioned how a Parliament could be considered independent if it is not allowed to manage its own affairs.

"If Parliament were to be allowed to manage its own affairs, then the restoration of the PSA is essential and in this case. All MPs have made their stance very clear on this matter.

"The cabinet must submit to Parliament, not the other way," stressed the Ipoh Timor MP.

The king will deliver a royal address at the opening of the Parliament session on Monday. It is slated to end on May 4.