Fahmi: PSA bill tabled in Dewan 'different' from previous version

Summary

• Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil says cabinet was informed the Parliamentary Service Bill 2025 is different than the previous version discussed with Parliament staff.

• Fahmi says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said responded to criticisms by opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin yesterday.

Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the cabinet was informed today that the Parliamentary Services Bill 2025 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat is different from a previous version, which allegedly drew objections from Parliament staff.

Speaking during the weekly post-cabinet press conference in Putrajaya, Fahmi said the matter was confirmed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said.

“Yesterday, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said he was informed by former Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Harun that he had received negative feedback from Parliament staff. 

“I am happy to announce that based on our checks, the draft (Bill) brought by Azhar is different than the one tabled in Parliament,” said the communications minister.

“This is what was informed to the cabinet by Azalina, the minister in charge,” he added. 

Fahmi, however, said further questions and details can be addressed to Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul, who called for a press conference in Parliament today.

Yesterday, Hamzah mocked Azalina for her statement that the Parliamentary Service Bill 2025 is the “mother of all reforms”.

The Bersatu deputy president also claimed he was informed by Azhar, who led the Lower House from July 13, 2020, to Dec 18, 2022, that up to 70 percent of Parliament staff had objected to the proposed changes.

The latest bill provides for the establishment of the Parliamentary Service and Parliamentary Service Council, allowing Parliament to manage its own administration independent of the public service system.

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