Dewan passes constitutional change, paves way for PSA

Summary

• Dewan Rakyat passes the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2025 to enable govt to reinstate and re-enforce the Parliamentary Services Act.

• Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul says the amendment was passed with the support of 148 MPs.

PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat passed the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2025 to enable the government to reinstate and re-enforce the Parliamentary Services Act.

Speaker Johari Abdul said the amendment was passed with the support of a two-thirds majority during a bloc vote, where 148 MPs voted in favour.

Fifty-seven MPs abstained, while another 17 were absent.

Earlier, 18 backbenchers and opposition lawmakers took part in the debate before the constitutional amendment was made.

Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said tabled the amendment bill for reading, followed by the Parliamentary Services Bill 2025.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025 is aimed at amending Articles 56 and 57 of the Federal Constitution by inserting a new element called Clause (5A).

The clause states that a person elected as Dewan Negara president, Dewan Rakyat speaker, or deputy speakers shall not be disqualified from holding that office by reason of his membership in the Parliamentary Services Council established under federal law, provided that the elected member concerned does not receive any remuneration, gift, profit or benefit from it.

The bill also seeks to amend Article 65 of the Federal Constitution to provide for the appointment of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat secretaries by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong - who may or may not come from members of the federal civil service.

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