KUALA LUMPUR: An improved version of the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA), previously repealed, will be reintroduced in Parliament this October, says Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M. Kulasegaran.
The PSA, originally repealed during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration, allows Parliament to function as an independent body, managing its affairs, selecting its staff, and controlling its expenditure.
Kulasegaran addressed concerns about the perceived lack of reforms by the Madani government, assuring that progress is being made.
"I can assure you it is all happening, but it takes time due to necessary consultations, both locally and externally, with many parties," he said at the Retail Conference organised by the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA).
He also said that the reintroduction of the PSA would come with improvements, underscoring the need for parliamentary independence from the executive and judiciary branches.
"Parliament must be independent... it cannot be a department within the government," Kulasegaran said.
The reintroduction of the act will include enhancements to ensure judicial independence.
"Other countries have advanced further on certain parliamentary provisions, and we must catch up," he added.