SIBU: The passage of the Parliamentary Services Bill by Parliament is a significant reform under the unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew pointed out that after 33 years, Malaysia has reinstated the Parliamentary Services Act, achieving the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches—a major milestone for the country.
“The Parliamentary Services Act focuses on four key improvements to ensure parliamentary independence: strengthening the principle of separation of powers, safeguarding the independent operation of Parliament, allowing Parliament to manage its own affairs and granting autonomy over its administrative and financial budgets,” he said in a statement today (Mar 7).
Ling noted that previously, Parliament was managed by the Minister of Law, who also served as the parliamentary affairs minister.
He said Parliamentary staff were part of the civil service system and financial matters were determined by the government without independent decision-making power.
This meant, he said, that Parliament essentially functioned as part of the executive system, with its operations dictated by the government.
According to Ling, the passage of the Parliamentary Services Bill signifies that Parliament will no longer be under government jurisdiction.
Adding on, he said the highest authority in Parliament will now be the Parliamentary Services Council led by the Speakers of both the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) and Dewan Negara (Senate).
This change strengthens Parliament’s role in checking and balancing the government, he said, ensuring that as a legislative body, it can limit government power and oversee its actions more effectively.
He welcomed the passage of the bill, acknowledging that while there are still areas for future improvement, it is a crucial milestone in Malaysia’s democratic progress. It ensures that Malaysia’s democratic system continues to be refined and strengthened.
Ling also addressed public concerns, noting that many may wonder how this bill directly affects ordinary citizens.
He highlighted two key impacts: first, enhanced government oversight will improve efficiency and prevent abuse of power; second, the government will have to place greater emphasis on public opinion when formulating policies, as it will need to engage in more consultations and seek broader support to pass laws in a more independent Parliament.
Expressing hope that the significance of this reform—especially in improving governance and efficiency—would encourage the Sarawak state government to introduce its own democratic reforms, he emphasised the need for greater transparency in the Sarawak government, particularly by strengthening checks and balances.
“I would wish to call for empowering the opposition, allowing them to play a more substantial role in overseeing and balancing the state government’s power within the Sarawak State Assembly,” Ling added.
