THE government has prepared the draft bill to reinstate the Parliamentary Services Act, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Shabudin Yahaya told the Dewan Negara today.

“The draft bill is ready and the government is studying and fine-tuning the (details in relation to the) establishment of the Parliament Services Commission,” he said, replying to points raised by senators debating the royal address today.

He was responding to calls by Senators Yaakob Sapari, Ismail Yusof and Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff to reinstate the now abolished Parliamentary Services Act 1963.

Yusmadi said during his debate of the royal address last week that the Act, which was repealed in 1992, should be reinstated to enhance the autonomy of Parliament as an influential forum in determining national policy.

Meanwhile, Ismail and Senator Liew Chin Tong had also proposed the establishment of a joint commission between the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat to look into the drafting of the new Parliamentary Services Act.

Shabudin said in response that the upper and lower houses can establish a permanent joint commission, according to the provision of the Standing Orders, to study issues related to parliamentary affairs.

“The implementation of the Parliamentary Services Act will depend on the administration of Parliament and the law division of the Prime Minister’s Department,” Shabudin said.

“I am of the view that this matter should be extended to the speaker of the house and he can drive us forward towards expediting the process of enacting the Parliamentary Services Act.” 

Shabudin said his ministry will then do the needful processing in relation to the enactment of the law. – September 15, 2020.