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Parliament's independence from Putrajaya kicks in today
(Editor's Note: Paragraph 2 was added for context, it does not appear in the original Bernama copy.)
The Parliamentary Services Act 2025 (Act 869) and related amendments to the Federal Constitution take effect today.
The amendments provide for the establishment of the Parliamentary Service and Parliamentary Service Council, allowing Parliament to manage its own administration independent of the public service system - including management of its staff and how it spends its budget.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the law’s enactment is a significant achievement for the Madani government’s institutional reform agenda and a historic milestone for the Parliament, 34 years after the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 (Act 394) was repealed under the Constitution (Amendment) Act 1992 (Act A837), effective Nov 20, 1992...
(Editor's Note: Paragraph 2 was added for context, it does not appear in the original Bernama copy.)
The Parliamentary Services Act 2025 (Act 869) and related amendments to the Federal Constitution take effect today.
The amendments provide for the establishment of the Parliamentary Service and Parliamentary Service Council, allowing Parliament to manage its own administration independent of the public service system - including management of its staff and how it spends its budget.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the law’s enactment is a significant achievement for the Madani government’s institutional reform agenda and a historic milestone for Parliament, 34 years after the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 was repealed under the Constitution (Amendment) Act 1992, effective Nov 20, 1992.
“More than three decades on, Act 869 restores Parliament’s autonomy by creating a dedicated parliamentary service, giving it greater independence and efficiency in managing its administration, human resources and affairs.
“This will further strengthen Parliament’s position as the highest legislative body in the country’s parliamentary democracy,” she said in a statement today.
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Azalina also said the government expressed its gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar for granting consent to set Oct 1 as the date on which Act 869 and related amendments to the Federal Constitution would come into force.
Commitment to separation of powers
The reform also reflects the government’s commitment to upholding the doctrine of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances among the legislative, executive and judicial branches.
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2026/07/9762a5dcb3ea9e87bcc63e43daf17a7b.jpg "Interview with Minister at PMO azalina othman said 060726 circa July 2026 Minister of Law and Institutional Reform in the Department of the Prime Minister of Malaysia")
“With stronger institutional autonomy, Parliament can carry out its constitutional functions and responsibilities to the people more independently, effectively and credibly,” Azalina (above) said.
She also thanked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the cabinet and all stakeholders, including NGOs and CSOs, for their cooperation in bringing about the reform.
“The government will continue to pursue its institutional reform agenda in a structured and sustained manner to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions and ensure public confidence in national institutions is maintained,” she added.
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2026/07/af7f0a7f8ab24a5d1cdfd3164a18e3b0.jpg "Cabinet Ministers meeting circa july 22nd 2026 220726 feat Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi")
The Parliamentary Services Bill 2025 was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 24, 2025, followed by its second reading on March 4, 2025.
The Dewan Rakyat passed the bill on March 5, followed by the Dewan Negara on March 20, 2025. Sultan Ibrahim consented on July 9, and the bill was gazetted on July 18, 2025.
- Bernama
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This deserves more attention. After 34 years, Parliament regains control over its own administration, staffing and budget. These may sound like dry administrative matters, but they matter to how independently Parliament can do its job and hold the government accountable. Credit to PMX, Azalina and the MADANI government for delivering this reform. Pakatan Harapan has long championed stronger institutions, and this is a concrete step towards that promise. Of course, more reforms are needed. But takkan bila ada kemajuan, kita tak boleh acknowledge? Demand further progress, yes. Give credit where it is due, also yes. Stronger parliamentary institutions benefit every Malaysian, whoever forms the next government.
This is not really a real reforms - only the mechanism and infra-structure per se. Real reforms is the person running it and not appointed by the Executive. True separation of power ?
Well done to the MADANI government for successfully pushing through this historic institutional reform.Restoring full autonomy to Parliament completely separates the legislature from the Executive, putting the constitutional principle of separation of powers into real practice. We hope this give us higher quality MPs, a transparent and clean government similar to Singapore, and laws that genuinely put the people first.
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