NGOs push for stronger parliamentary independence in new bill

SHAH ALAM - Civil society groups have urged Parliament to address the shortcomings of the Parliamentary Services Bill 2025 by incorporating key reforms or referring it to a parliamentary select committee.

This call follows a recent dialogue with Institutional Reforms and Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, where concerns were raised about the bill’s legal framework.

In a joint statement, organisations including Bersih, IDEAS, Refsa, Projek SAMA and Rasuah Busters called on Azalina and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to publicly commit to specific improvements during their parliamentary speeches today and tomorrow.

These commitments are seen as essential to ensuring the bill upholds a more accountable and independent parliamentary framework.

"If the prime minister and the law minister are unable to provide these clarifications and commitments on record, it is entirely appropriate and necessary for Members of Parliament to push for the bill to be referred to a parliamentary select committee," the statement read.

The groups stressed that sending the bill to a select committee would allow lawmakers to address its shortcomings and introduce necessary amendments.

They also urged all 222 MPs to engage in the debate and vote in favour of the bill.

The Parliamentary Services Bill 2025, among others, aims to establish the Parliamentary Service as a separate service from the civil service. It was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 24.

After the Parliamentary Services Act 1966 was repealed in 1992, the bill opened a new chapter to further strengthen the institution of Parliament, thus proving the Madani Government’s agenda to implement institutional reforms with the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches.

Since the Act was repealed, Parliament has been placed under the Prime Minister’s Department and there is a minister who supervises the movement and administration of Parliament.