Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann welcomed the proposals and hoped that the two-thirds support needed to amend the relevant sections of the Federal Constitution could be reached in order to get the reforms enacted.
He hoped the initiative, and the strengthening of parliamentary special select committees, could be done before the next general election.
The Parliamentary Services Act 1963 was an act that allows Parliament to conduct its own administration, staffing and financing.
However, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah suggested that the minister sit down with the select committee and civil society members first to determine what reforms were needed to strengthen parliamentary democracy.
“Don’t make piecemeal announcements,” she said. “There are many reforms to be made in Parliament. This kind of announcement is not very useful because he has to tell us what the detailed changes are.”
New law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said today that a revival or reintroduction of the Parliamentary Services Act was on the agenda during his discussions with Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun yesterday.
“Both the Yang di-Pertua Dewan Negara and Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat took the proposal positively and are, in fact, prepared to take the lead role in the transformation of our Parliament,” the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said.
Meanwhile, Maria said many MPs had pushed for the Parliamentary Services Act to be revived, but at the same time, there must be a commitment from the government that it comes with federal funding and there is no interference from the executive.
“The minister has to look into this because there’s not much point having a nice law without Parliament being independent.”
She said the proposal must be brought before the select committee to be debated before being forwarded to Parliament.
“The government has to adopt a new approach of inclusiveness, accountability and transparency,” she said.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth leader Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said they support the announcement on parliamentary reforms, adding that any parliamentary and democratic reforms must include the revival of the Parliamentary Services Act.
“Many, including MPs, former legislators, academicians and the legal fraternity, have said that the Parliamentary Services Act, which was repealed in 1992, is essential in restoring Parliament’s original rights and privileges as intended in the Federal Constitution.”
He said the revival of the act would return Parliament’s authority and autonomy over its own affairs, such as administration, procedures, research, publications, finance and human resources, all of which are currently being handled by central government officials.
“Umno Youth also wishes to be included in the consultation process of preparing the Bill (revive the Act).”
DAP senator Liew Chin Tong said in a statement on his social media account that he was “pleasantly surprised” to read Wan Junaidi’s statement on the Parliamentary Services Act.
“His statement augurs well for the transformation of Parliament that Malaysians have waited for, for decades.
“I hope he will leave a legacy by making his tenure the most transformative period of the Malaysian Parliament.”