THE Parliamentary Services Commission is expected to be set up next year, in efforts to enhance parliament’s power of autonomy, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong.

Liew told the Dewan Rakyat a study on the commission was now in the final stages and the bill was being prepared.

“The commission will be set up after it has been studied and agreed by the government,” he said in reply to a question from Noor Amin Ahmad (PH-Kangar) who wanted to know when the government would revive the Parliamentary Services Commission Act.

Replying to a supplementary question from Noor Amin on the obstructions to the immediate setting up of the commission, Liew said he needed time to ensure a smooth implementation.

“The Dewan Rakyat Speaker (Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof) and I have held several meetings on the matter, to ensure it goes smoothly,” he said.

Parliamentary Caucus on Reform and Governance chairman Anwar Ibrahim had previously expressed hope the bill could be tabled in the July sitting, paving the way for the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 which was abolished in 1992, to be revived.

Ariff himself had also vowed to reinstate the Act, as part of his reform plans for the lower house. – Bernama, November 28, 2019.