THE 2023 parliamentary services bill, which is in the drafting stage, has received a positive response from the MPs and senators.

Dewan Negara president Wan Junaidi Jaafar said members of both Houses welcomed the re-introduction of the 1963 Parliamentary Services Act for the separation of powers.

“This bill will complement the requirements of the Federal Constitution to clearly dignify the Institution of the Malaysian parliament which is independent of the government’s executive branch.

“We hope this bill can be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat session in October. The briefing session last night gives the members of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat an opportunity to get information in advance so that they can cooperate in the tabling and debate of the bill,” he said.

On August 29, Wan Junaidi said the bill was in the second stage of draft for the approval for the Joint Council of the Dewan Negara and the Dewan Rakyat and that it would be distributed to the various government agencies before it was presented to thecabinet.

The Parliamentary Services Act 1963 was introduced for Dewan Rakyat to act as an independent body, run its own affairs, select its staff and control its expenditure. It was repealed in 1992. – Bernama, September 19, 2023.