KUALA LUMPUR: The Parliamentary Services bill, aimed at granting autonomy to Parliament in managing its affairs, may be tabled in its upcoming or next sitting, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
"I had a meeting with the prime minister and ministers last month.
"Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has been stern on making sure that the separation of powers take place, as documented in his speeches," he told media practitioners at an afternoon tea at the Parliament building today.
He said the draft to the bill was ready, but some matters needed to be ironed out before it could be tabled.
The Act was introduced in 1963, allowing Parliament to act as an independent body and manage its own affairs including hiring, but was repealed in 1992.
Calls to revive the law had been aired for a few years among members of parliament as well as former Senate president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, and the cabinet, had in principle agreed to the matter.
The Parliament sitting this year will commence on Feb 26 as it its First Meeting will run for 19 days between Feb 26 and March 27.
The Second Meeting will be from June 24 to July 18 (15 days), followed by the Third Meeting from Oct 7 to Dec 5, with a total of 35 days.
The 2025 Budget is slated to be tabled in October.