PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES BILL: A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD AUTONOMY AND EFFICIENCY

By Amanina Mohamad Yusof

PUTRAJAYA, March 30 (Bernama) -- The recently passed Parliamentary Services Bill represents a crucial step toward enhancing the independence and efficiency of Malaysia’s parliamentary institution.

Associate Prof Datuk Dr Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain, a constitutional expert from the International Islamic University Malaysia, said that one of the Bill’s key provisions is the restoration of Parliament’s administrative and financial autonomy, which had been under executive control since the repeal of the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 in 1992.

He noted that the Bill empowers the Parliamentary Service Council to independently oversee financial management, appointments, promotions, and administrative matters without reliance on the Public Service Department (PSD).

"The guarantee of financial allocation is a necessary component of the democratic system’s checks and balances, as the executive should not have direct authority in determining the remuneration of the Senate president and Dewan Rakyat speaker. This principle is codified in the Act.

"This provision ensures that these presiding officers are not subject to the direct control or discretion of the executive in matters concerning their remuneration and entitlements. As a result, they can preside over parliamentary proceedings with impartiality," he told Bernama.

He stated that in matters of finance, staffing, and promotions for members of the Parliamentary Service, there is now greater certainty, as Parliament is mandated to allocate sufficient funds under this Act, ensuring their independence from the PSD.

"With the passage of this Bill, Malaysia joins several other Commonwealth nations that have implemented similar mechanisms. While not identical in form, the overarching objective remains the same, namely to establish financial and administrative independence for Parliament," he stated.

Wan Ahmad Fauzi said that the MADANI government's success in reinstating the Act after its repeal in 1992 should be regarded as a positive development.

However, he emphasised that several areas still require improvement, including financial provisions, staffing warrants, service schemes, facilities, the preservation of institutional neutrality, and the consistent delivery of high-quality services with integrity.

"The provisions of this Act primarily serve to establish a service scheme independent of the public service, with a focus on training and enhancing the quality of service provided by members of Parliament and support staff assisting the Senate president and Dewan Rakyat speaker. 

"If the Act aims to absorb contract Parliament officers and staff into permanent positions, I am confident that this would, to some extent, safeguard their welfare, provide greater job security.

“This would enable them to perform their duties more effectively without the undue pressure of contract renewal uncertainties," he explained.

Wan Ahmad Fauzi further emphasised that reforms in information management and the delivery system of the Malaysian Parliament must be aligned with current needs to enhance transparency and ensure the effectiveness of the legislative system.

"It is not only members of Parliament who require access to parliamentary records and legal education, but also external researchers and the general public.

"Our Parliament traces its origins to the Federal Legislative Council of 1948. Undoubtedly, a vast collection of historical documents is housed within Parliament, which must be preserved systematically and managed for easy access and reference.

“If the Parliamentary service facilities, such as the library, and access to reference materials can be utilised by members of Parliament through advanced information systems, the practice of constitutional democracy can certainly be improved,” he said.

The Parliamentary Services Bill 2025 was passed in Dewan Rakyat on March 5 and in the Senate on March 20.

The Bill, among other objectives, seeks to establish the Parliamentary Service as a distinct entity, separate from the public service.

It also provides for the establishment of the Parliamentary Service Council, which is tasked with appointing and determining the terms and conditions of service for members of the Parliamentary Service, overseeing all financial matters related to it and developing as well as implementing programmes and training initiatives relevant to the Parliamentary Service.

-- BERNAMA