Nilai: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized today that the MADANI government has demonstrated its dedication to transparency and accountability by devolving more powers to Parliament. This includes the introduction of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2023, which mandates the Finance Minister to present growth projections and a strategy to reduce national debt for parliamentary approval.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar highlighted that the government is willing to cede its powers to Parliament, as evidenced by the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2023. He explained that if the Finance Minister announces a policy and Parliament approves it, but the policy cannot be implemented, the Finance Minister must retable it to ensure the government’s policy is enacted responsibly.

He made these remarks while launching the Negeri Sembilan edition of the Program MADANI Rakyat (PMR) 2025 at Dataran Nilai. The event was attended by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. The programme, themed “Digital Across Generations, Empowering Communities,” was initiated by the Digital Ministry in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office through the Performance Acceleration Coordination Unit, with the Negeri Sembilan government as host.

The Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023 was introduced by the MADANI Government to ensure responsibility, accountability, governance, and transparency in managing public finances and fiscal risks. It became effective on January 1, 2024, after being passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara in 2023.

Additionally, the Prime Minister pointed to the tabling of the Government Procurement Bill, currently under debate in the Dewan Rakyat, as further evidence of the government’s transparency efforts. He noted that the previous government was hesitant to take such steps. Anwar stressed that all government procurement, whether federal, state, or local, must adhere to clear procedures and tender processes, except in cases involving security, such as purchasing radar systems where confidentiality is required.

Anwar concluded that only a strong and courageous government would be willing to delegate powers to Parliament, thereby proving its accountability.