MP moots joint panel to ensure fair representation in parliamentary council

MP moots joint panel to ensure fair representation in parliamentary council

PETALING JAYA: A government MP has proposed a joint oversight committee comprising members from both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara to ensure the parliamentary services council fairly represents the voices of both government and opposition MPs.

Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) said at present, the Parliamentary Services Bill 2025 did not specify how the four MPs in the council would be selected.

She warned that this omission cannot be overlooked, adding that it risks opening the door to cronyism – something that must be avoided.

“This oversight committee must ensure that the council functions with integrity and transparency. Without proper measures for accountability, we risk creating a system that could be exploited for political interests,” she said while debating the bill in the Dewan Rakyat.

Earlier, Bernama reported that the government had agreed to appoint two senators and four MPs, including two opposition representatives, to the parliamentary services council.

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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had said that a parliamentary committee would make the appointments tomorrow if the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025, which forms the foundation of the Parliamentary Services Bill 2025, was passed in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said that the proposal to improve the membership of the council could be done without amending the bill, by using Standing Order 76 of the Dewan Rakyat.

Anwar said legal advisers had informed him that this was sufficient to ensure not only the council’s independence, but also opposition representation in the council.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed today after its second and third readings.

Syerleena reiterated that while the move to enact a Parliamentary Services Act is a step forward in strengthening Malaysia’s democratic institutions, additional safeguards are necessary.

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She also stressed that the selection process of the MPs appointed to the council must be transparent and based on merit.

“Governments will change, leaders will come and go, but Parliament must remain strong. Future administrations must respect and uphold the independence of this institution,” she added.