Hybrid service model addresses Parliament staffers' concerns

Summary

• The Parliamentary Services Bill will introduce a hybrid model for Parliament staffers to allay career development concerns.

• Parliament says in a statement that this will ensure continuity of specialised expertise in managing its affairs and maintaining smooth operations.

• The model was introduced following negative feedback from Parliament staffers last year.

The Parliamentary Services Bill 2025 introduces a hybrid model to allay Parliament staffers’ concerns about their future career development.

Parliament said in a statement today that this hybrid model would see the civil service handle Parliament’s human resources, administration, and finances.

Meanwhile, a separate Parliamentary Service would handle the affairs of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, including its select committees.

“This approach not only ensures the continuity of specialised expertise in managing parliamentary sessions but also maintains smooth operations through the experience of civil service officers.

“At the same time, it offers a more flexible career pathway for officers who wish to serve in Parliament either permanently or temporarily,” the statement said.

It said the move is in response to the findings of a survey conducted amongst its staff on Feb 6 last year.

Malaysiakini understands that the statement, as well as a press conference by Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul, were to clarify claims by opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, who cited the survey’s findings to mock Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said.

‘Most staffers against proposal’

Yesterday, Hamzah dismissed the bill as an “insignificant” reform.

He also said he was informed by former Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, who led the Lower House from July 13, 2020, to Dec 18, 2022, that 70 percent of Parliament staff had objected to the proposed changes.

The statement today said the 2024 survey found that 67 percent of Parliament staff wanted to return to their original service, while 33 percent agreed to remain with the parliamentary services scheme.

Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil responded earlier today that the Parliamentary Services Bill tabled on Monday is different from the version that previously drew negative feedback from staffers.

The bill, which aims to restore Parliament’s independence from the executive branch, would establish the Parliamentary Service and Parliamentary Service Council.

This allows Parliament to manage its own administration separately from the public service system.

It is accompanied by a constitutional amendment bill to allow for the Parliamentary Services Bill to take effect.

Meanwhile, to facilitate the establishment of the hybrid model, the Parliament said a nucleus group would be formed to coordinate its implementation within the next 24 months.

“This hybrid model serves as a strategic step to ensure the administrative efficiency of the Malaysian Parliament, retain expert personnel in legislative affairs, and meet the needs of various stakeholders including MPs, senators, and officers involved in the service,” it said.

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