Parliamentary Services Bill: A Step Backwards for Democracy
Background
In 1963, a law was passed giving Parliament control over its own administration, but this law was repealed in 1992, and the administration of Parliament was placed under the civil service. This move has been criticized for weakening the independence and effectiveness of Parliament.
Call for Reform
A group of reform advocates, including Bersih, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Projek Sama, and Rasuah Busters, have called for the Parliamentary Services Bill to be improved to give Parliament more autonomy and independence from the executive branch. They are pushing for 11 urgent remedies, including:
- Giving opposition and government MPs a say in running Parliament
- Financial autonomy for the parliamentary services council
- Creation of a budget office
- Improvements in provisions on leadership, administrative autonomy, financial autonomy, services provided to MPs and public accountability
Criticism of the Bill
The group has described the bill as unambitious and self-restricting, adopting the same strategy as the 1963 law. They argue that this will not lead to a truly empowered Parliament, but rather one that remains under the influence of the executive branch.
Comparison with Other Parliaments
The group notes that other parliaments, such as those in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Canada, have made bold reforms to produce professional and competent parliamentary services. They argue that Malaysia should follow their examples.
Staff Disagreement
According to opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, 70% of parliamentary staff are against the bill. The NGOs suggest that this may be due to inadequate briefings and information about the details and alternatives for the bill.
Conclusion
The Parliamentary Services Bill, as it stands, is a step back for democracy in Malaysia. It is essential that Parliament is truly empowered and independent from the executive branch. The 11 urgent remedies proposed by the reform advocates are a good starting point, but more needs to be done to ensure that Parliament is able to effectively hold the government accountable and produce better laws and policies.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of the Parliamentary Services Bill?
A: The bill is currently under review, with critics arguing that it does not go far enough in empowering Parliament.
Q: What are the main concerns with the bill?
A: The bill is seen as unambitious and self-restricting, with a lack of provisions to ensure true autonomy and independence for Parliament.
Q: How do other parliaments compare in terms of their services?
A: Parliaments in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Canada have made bold reforms to produce professional and competent parliamentary services, which Malaysia should consider emulating.