Johari: Parliamentary Service Act gives Parliament greater scope to strengthen oversight of government

On September 8, Cameron Highlands witnessed the implementation of the Parliamentary Service Act (PSA), which grants Parliament the capacity to enhance its legislative duties. Among these enhancements is the strengthening of special select committees that assist the government in pinpointing flaws and tackling public concerns, according to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.

Johari emphasized that the adoption of the PSA marked a shift from 33 years of parliamentary oversight under executive control, thereby enabling the legislative body to assume a more autonomous stance in bolstering national progress. The 10 ministry-related committees, each comprising 12 MPs, hold extensive terms of reference and the authority to summon any party for hearings on matters of public interest or ministerial inadequacies.

These committees generate reports and recommendations that receive due consideration in the Dewan Rakyat, thereby guiding executive attention to any identified oversights or shortcomings. Johari highlighted during a press conference the advantage of early identification of ministerial issues before they escalate into more significant problems.

He further explained that, before the PSA, major decisions were primarily made by the executive, with operational flaws often leading to prolonged complications. The act also empowers Parliament to plan and execute reforms, as legislative decisions are now made by the Speaker and Parliament, with the minister responsible for law and parliamentary affairs functioning as a coordinator.

Johari stated that the conference served as a platform for Malaysian Parliament and state legislative assemblies to exchange best practices and bolster federal-state legislative connections grounded in federalism principles. He mentioned that the conference provided an opportunity to deliberate on proposals for strengthening the legislature and produce resolutions to guide legislative institutions in the future.

The areas for potential enhancement include fostering closer ties between the legislature and the public, such as increasing opportunities for citizens and students to interact with Parliament and state assemblies.