Former law minister Azalina Othman Said and ex-Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah are the co-conveners of the parliamentary caucus.

In a joint statement, the Pengerang and Petaling Jaya MPs said Bersih would serve as the caucus’ secretariat, and that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun had been informed of its establishment.

“The objective of this caucus is to encourage dialogue, engagement and cross-party participation in Parliament on institutional reforms, especially that of the Dewan Rakyat, and to facilitate public participation in the parliamentary process.

“This caucus is essential to foster and drive healthy and productive multi-party competition to enhance the democratic atmosphere in Malaysia,” they said.

The caucus includes party leaders such as DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau, Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president Larry Sng, and Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s (PSB) Baru Bian.

Other MPs in the caucus are PKR’s Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Amanah’s Hasanuddin Yunus and Hanipa Maidin, Bersatu’s Redzuan Yusof, DAP’s Wong Shu Qi and independent MP Xavier Jayakumar.

The caucus’ first order of business will be to explore revising the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders by introducing “non-governmental business time” and facilitating the adoption of private members’ bills.

It will also look into digitising parliamentary processes, empowering parliamentary select committees and holding talks with stakeholders on strengthening Malaysia’s democracy and Parliament.

“Additionally, we are concerned about the gender imbalance in the leadership of the Dewan Rakyat and Senate and we see the importance of having deputy speakers/deputy presidents that reflect diversity in terms of gender, region, and partisanship.”