Parliamentary Services Act '90pct ready' - Azalina

PARLIAMENT | Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said today indicated the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA) is “90 percent complete” with its draft laws already prepared.

Azalina (above) said the ongoing efforts towards upholding the separation of powers involve multiple engagements held last year and this year, with stakeholders such as the Dewan Rakyat speaker, and the Senate president.

“So, the answer here is indeed (the act) is already 90 percent ready. The draft laws are also ready.

“Just waiting for the right time (to table), as asked by Raub about the timeline,” she said in response to Chow Yu Hui (Harapan-Raub) during Minister’s Question Time.

Chow in a supplementary question also raised a need for government backbenchers and opposition MPs to be provided with allocations to hire research officers.

Full support

Azalina, in response, said the present administration hoped to return the powers of Parliament to set its own direction, including on matters affecting all MPs.

“We want to see that happen under this current Madani administration,” she stressed.

Azalina also expressed hope that the PSA can be tabled at the same time as the constitutional amendments on proposed citizenship laws, to get the necessary support.

However, she expressed confidence that the PSA would obtain the support of all 222 MPs.

“I am confident because this amendment is not only for the citizens out there but for all of us as MPs,” she said.

The Parliamentary Services Act was first enacted in 1963, just a few months before the formation of Malaysia.

It allowed Parliament to act as a truly independent body, running its own affairs, selecting its staff and controlling its expenditure.

However, it was repealed in 1992 and placed as a key reform agenda under the present administration.

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