It has been 33 years since Malaysia repealed the Parliamentary Services Act during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first administration in 1992.
As a result, our once robust Parliament became a lot more muted – well not literally (screaming contests are still part of the regularly scheduled programming at the august house), but in terms of how it functions. It also lost its autonomy to the prime minister’s office.
Recently PKR MP Lee Chean Chung said the government will be tabling a new parliamentary services act (PSA) in the current session of the House of Representatives.
This is something civil society organisations and the Pakatan Harapan coalition have been pushing for, for a long time, as it would restore or at least increase parliamentary autonomy and independence.
But why is it important for us to have a stronger Parliament? What should a proper parliamentary services act entail?
BFM speaks to Ngeow Chow Ying, a legal expert and convenor at Projek Sama.
Presented and produced by: Dashran Yohan/BFM
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