KUALA LUMPUR: The government is studying enacting the Parliamentary Services Commission Act to ensure Parliament is free from influence by the executive branch of government.
In a written reply made available today, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin said this step was among several being looked into as part of Pakatan Harapan’s Manifesto.
“In line with Pakatan Harapan Manifesto’s Promise 16 of restoring the sanctity of the institution of Parliament, the government is studying indepth the proposed steps to carry out reform of Parliament to ensure it is free from influence of the executive.
“Among the steps being studied for implementation is to create the Parliamentary Services Commission Act,” he said in reply to Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil (PH-PKR-Lembah Pantai).
Fahmi wanted to know what institutional reforms would be taken to ensure Parliament is free from influence of the executive branch of government.
Hanipa noted that other related steps that had been taken were the formation of six special select committees based on the interests and direction of the country.
He said that another step that had been implemented was the appointment of an opposition lawmaker as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
“For Yang Berhormat’s information, any proposed step to reform Parliament needs indepth study so that it would achieve its aim, and would need to be brought before the Dewan Committee of the Dewan Rakyat Council of the 14th Parliament for discussion and deliberation.”