Govt needs to reinstate Parliamentary Services Act

KUALA LUMPUR: The government should be serious in efforts to restore the integrity of the Parliament by reinstating the Parliamentary Services Act 1963, said a backbencher.
Datuk Johari Abdul (PH-Sungai Petani) said Parliamentary independence was important in ensuring that the institution is a self-governing body without any "executive" interference.
For example he said, funds should be allocated directly to the institution and should no longer through the Prime Minister's Department and this should also be the case for the appointment of staff.
He further recommended that the government take drastic, fast and accurate action in identifying and bringing to justice individuals who have tarnished the image of the institution,
"Immediate action should be taken against those who steal, misappropriate, cheat and sell assets of the institution using dubious means. If action is delayed, the people out there will assume that the PH government is conspiring with certain individuals and we will lose the people's trust, " he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat today.
In supporting Johari's motion, Dr Hasan Bahrom (PH-Tampin) said the rules concerning Parliamentary Services were important and significant as they served to regulate matters relating to eligibility requirements for appointment, service and promotion as well as discipline of staff of Parliament.
"This will enable the Parliamentary staff, especially the chief administrator, secretary of the House, secretary of the Senate and other staff to be separated from the Public Service Commission," he said.
Hasan said having independent parliamentary staff who are impartial had been the norm among countries with parliamentary democracy.
In fact, he said in some Commonwealth countries, it was enacted in the Parliamentary Services Act that parliamentary staff should not be part of the executive body.
Hasan said it was possible for the act to be reinstated as it was not new and had already been used since March 11, 1963 before it was abolished in 1993. — Bernama