He said he hoped to have such meetings two or three times a year with the secretary-general and legal adviser of each ministry, Bernama reported.

“The response at the first meeting was very good,” he said in Ipoh after visiting the Perak state assembly. He looked forward to a second meeting “possibly during the coming budget session (in October)”.

Johari said it was necessary to review outdated laws that are incompatible with the digital age and to ensure they are updated to keep pace with current developments.

He said in his visit to the state assembly, he had learned about government assistance provided to state assemblymen.

“For example, Perak has already begun assisting state assemblymen with their service centres. I was also an assemblyman in Kedah, and it was a battle in the state assembly to obtain funds for a service centre,” he said.

He also highlighted the select committees formed by the Perak legislature to focus on specific issues, such as a select committee on flies. “It may sound like a joke, but it is a reality. The existence of such a committee is not only an initiative of the state assembly speaker but also involves all parties,” he added.

He noted that establishing special select committees can significantly simplify the resolution of emerging issues.

Johari had previously visited the Melaka and Negeri Sembilan state assemblies.

On a separate note, Johari indicated that the anti-hopping law might be a key topic at the 2024 conference of speakers scheduled for September, although it was not on the official agenda.

Questions have been raised about gaps in the anti-hopping provisions between federal law and state enactments. “Each state has its own constitution. What happens in Parliament serves as a guideline, but ultimately states have their own rights,” Johari said.