Kuala Lumpur: The recently passed Parliamentary Services Bill represents a crucial step toward enhancing the independence and efficiency of Malaysia’s parliamentary institution.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Associate Prof Datuk Dr Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain, a constitutional expert from the International Islamic University Malaysia, stated that a significant provision of the Bill is the restoration of Parliament’s administrative and financial autonomy, which had been under executive control since the repeal of the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 in 1992.
He highlighted that the Bill empowers the Parliamentary Service Council to independently manage financial affairs, appointments, promotions, and administrative issues without relying on the Public Service Department (PSD). He explained that guaranteeing financial allocation is essential for maintaining checks and balances within the democratic system, ensuring the executive does not have direct control over the remuneration of the Senate president and Dewan Rakyat speaker.
Wan Ahmad Fauzi emphasized that these provisions allow presiding officers to conduct parliamentary proceedings impartially, without being subject to the executive’s discretion regarding their remuneration and entitlements. He pointed out that financial, staffing, and promotional matters for Parliamentary Service members are now more secure, with Parliament mandated to allocate sufficient funds under the Act, ensuring independence from the PSD.
“With the passage of this Bill, Malaysia joins several other Commonwealth nations that have implemented similar mechanisms. While not identical in form, the overarching objective remains the same, namely to establish financial and administrative independence for Parliament,” he stated.
He acknowledged the MADANI government’s success in reinstating the Act after its repeal in 1992 as a positive development. However, he noted areas needing improvement, including financial provisions, staffing warrants, service schemes, facilities, preservation of institutional neutrality, and consistent delivery of high-quality services with integrity.
The Act aims to establish a service scheme independent of the public service, focusing on training and enhancing the quality of service provided by Parliament members and support staff assisting the Senate president and Dewan Rakyat speaker. Wan Ahmad Fauzi expressed confidence that absorbing contract Parliament officers and staff into permanent positions would safeguard their welfare and provide greater job security, enabling them to perform their duties more effectively.
He further stressed the need for reforms in information management and the delivery system of the Malaysian Parliament, aligned with current needs to enhance transparency and ensure legislative system effectiveness. He highlighted the importance of access to parliamentary records and legal education for members of Parliament, external researchers, and the general public. Managing the extensive collection of historical documents systematically for easy access and reference was also deemed essential.
The Parliamentary Services Bill 2025, passed in Dewan Rakyat on March 5 and in the Senate on March 20, seeks to establish the Parliamentary Service as a distinct entity, separate from the public service. It also provides for the establishment of the Parliamentary Service Council, tasked with appointing and determining service terms for members, overseeing financial matters, and developing training initiatives relevant to the Parliamentary Service.