PARLIAMENT and Putrajaya are studying the possibility of barring any MP or senator facing trial from participating in Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara proceedings until the trial is completed, said Senate president Rais Yatim.

This and other changes to reform Parliament were discussed at a meeting chaired by Rais and attended by Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday.

Among the proposed reforms is reinstating the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 to grant the legislative body autonomy and separation of powers from the executive, which is part of the reforms in the memorandum of understanding on transformation and political stability signed between Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Pakatan Harapan on September 13.

Rais said to bar any MP or senator facing charges from attending proceedings, the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act 1952 must be amended.

“Amendments to (this) Act are being studied to enable the House to prevent any member of the Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara who is facing court proceedings from taking part in both Houses until the case is completed,” he said in a statement.

“Besides this, both Houses are also looking at amending the code of ethics for MPs.”

If such a move is enacted, it may affect several MPs who are currently facing legal proceedings.

Among the lawmakers are former prime minister Najib Razak, who is embroiled in multiple charges involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd, and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is on trial for allegedly misappropriating funds from his charity foundation.

Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan was charged with money laundering and making a false statement, but acquitted by the High Court two days ago after paying a RM1.1 million compound as settlement.

Rais said during the meeting with Wan Junaidi yesterday, they agreed on the next steps to take to reinstate the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 and amend the law on parliamentary privileges and immunity.

In the pipeline is a briefing and dialogue session with all MPs and senators to explain the effect of reinstating and amending these laws, he added.

“(These) amendments and improvements will ensure that Parliament is no longer under the power of the executive and will enable more select committees with legal force to be established in the future.”

The Parliamentary Services Act 1963 was repealed in 1992, and parliamentary affairs were placed under the Prime Minister’s Department. Restoring the Act will grant Parliament authority over its own administration, staffing and financing.

The meeting yesterday was held at the Prime Minister’s Department, and also attended by Senate deputy president Mohamad Ali Mohamad, Deputy Law Minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Parliament administrator chief Nor Yahati Awang, and Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara secretaries.

Rais said a draft bill and memo on the various parliamentary transformations for the cabinet will be submitted to Wan Junaidi. – October 1, 2021.