KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken a significant step towards strengthening Parliament’s institutional independence by relinquishing executive control over its administration.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the move would allow Parliament to manage its own affairs independently after more than three decades under the executive branch.
“How many parliamentary leaders have there been on both sides of the House? How many prime ministers? Anwar is the prime minister who has finally relinquished control over Parliament.
“I believe we should all be grateful to the current government, particularly the frontbench, for agreeing to relinquish that authority in line with the commitment to parliamentary independence agreed upon last year,” she said.
She was speaking after a briefing on the Parliamentary Services Act 2025 and the Parliamentary Services Council (MPP) at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Azalina was responding to Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau), who interjected to suggest that Parliament should independently manage allocations for MPs through the MPP.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) thanked the government for the move but stressed that fairness must be upheld in all Dewan Rakyat affairs, particularly those affecting opposition MPs.
He said any matters concerning Parliament’s administration should first be deliberated by the appointed MPP representatives before decisions are made.
Before the debate on the Supply (Budget) Bill 2027 began, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said Parliament’s autonomy, restored after 33 years under executive administration, should be safeguarded and exercised responsibly to preserve the institution’s independence.
He said the appointment of the two government and two opposition lawmakers to the MPP the previous day would allow both sides to participate in discussions on Parliament’s administrative affairs.
“I hope we can be grateful that, after 33 years under the executive, we now recognise the importance of Parliament being free and independent. We have regained that independence, and we must ensure it is not compromised,” Johari said.
On Tuesday, the Committee of Selection proposed Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) and Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN-Simpang Renggam) as government representatives.
Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) were nominated to represent the opposition.
The Dewan Rakyat approved all four nominations yesterday through a motion tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as Leader of the House.
-- BERNAMA