KUALA LUMPUR: As part of parliamentary reform, six new standing committees have been set up to ensure further checks and balances.
The committees will enable lawmakers to engage with ministers and develop policies.
According to a source, the new committees are chaired by government backbenchers.
The committees are the Consideration of Bills Committee (chaired by Nurul Izzah Anwar); the Budget Committee (chaired by Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed); the Rights and Gender Equality Committee (chaired by Nor Azrina Surip); the Major Public Appointments Committee (chaired by William Leong); the Defence and Home Affairs Committee (chaired by Datuk Mansor Othman); and the Federal State Relations Committee (chaired by Hassan Abdul Karim).
The six new committees join five existing ones – the Public Accounts Committee; the Standing Orders Committee; the House Committee; the Privileges Committee; and the Select Committee.
The new committees were announced at a media conference by Subang Member of Parliament Wong Chen, who described the development as "historic" and crucial to parliamentary reform.
"Standing committees in Parliament are essential for democracy to flourish, to provide leadership, and checks and balances to the executive branch.
"For too long, Malaysian Members of Parliament have only been tasked to debate bills at a cursory level, and rubber stamp laws drafted by the executive branch,” he said.