PARLIAMENT should reintroduce a parliamentary draftsman to facilitate communication between lawmakers and the Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Yusof, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The Port Dickson MP said the parliamentary caucus on reform and governance, which he heads, will be planning to table a motion in Parliament to reintroduce the draftsman.

“There must be a parliamentary draftsman so that there is direct communication between the MPs and the select committees.

We want to raise the issue in Parliament as soon as possible. We are looking at the next Parliament sitting,” he said at the Parliament lobby today.

It is learnt that the person recruited to carry out the task would be charged with drafting the laws, which has so far been done by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

The officers charged with the duty of drafting laws are not in the Dewan Rakyat to follow the debates, so their understanding of the issues are restricted.

Anwar said that they had a draftsman before, but his tenure was cancelled.

“We want to bring the draftsman back with a new format. We have to deal with the cabinet, Parliament and then get the draftsman.

“This is to ensure that the draftsman can coordinate with the speaker and the MPs.”

Anwar also said there is a proposal for the Parliamentary Services Act and they will be meeting the speaker tomorrow.

“We will be meeting the speaker tomorrow for further action.

“We found that some of the ministries have not explained (issues) to the parliamentary select committee.

“There is no clear explanation for the officers attending the meeting.” – March 27, 2019.