Dewan Rakyat speaker: Checks and balances in both Houses will improve with more special select committees

LANGKAWI: The checks and balances provided by the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara will be boosted by having more special select committees.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun said the establishment of special select committees began in 2018 with just six, and had now increased to 11.

"The 11 select committees based on ministries give more opportunities for practical discussions on issues.

"Similarly, in the Dewan Negara, there are three select committees," he said in his speech at the 2022 Malaysian Parliament and State Assembly Speakers Conference opening ceremony here, today.

The four-day conference, which began yesterday, was opened by the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.

Azhar said the management of each special select committee would also be enhanced by a permanent secretariat to ensure proceedings were conducted smoothly.

"To date, the special select committees formed have played an active role in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation between government and opposition members of parliament, going beyond political interests.

"The implementation of special select committees have a significant impact on the quality of debate in the House and the process of enacting national laws," he added.

He said for example, the special select committee on the Federal Constitution (Amendments) Bill 2022 on the Prohibition of Members of Dewan Rakyat from Changing Parties, had effectively helped in the bill being passed with more than a two-thirds' majority.

"From a broader point of view, the approval of the amendments to the Federal Constitution Bill is very important and was able to preserve the integrity of democratic principles by ensuring that the mandate and wishes of the voters during general elections will always be respected.

"This law can also ensure political stability in the country apart from restoring the people's confidence in the country's legislative institutions," he said.