'This is your Parliament': Azalina tells MPs to take charge of own affairs

KUALA LUMPUR: Parliament Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said urged lawmakers to take control of their own responsibilities following the establishment of the Parliamentary Services Council. In a briefing, Azalina emphasized that Parliament was now accountable for managing its affairs and advised MPs to address fairness concerns with the council's representatives.

"I, as minister in charge, can no longer claim responsibility for Parliament," she stated. A contentious debate arose over parliamentary allocations, with Arau MP Dr Shahidan Kassim questioning whether Opposition MPs would receive equitable portions. Azalina asserted that Parliament should manage allocations, not the Prime Minister, calling for the transfer of responsibility from the Prime Minister's Department to Parliament.

Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul became the new leader, and MPs questioned his fairness in allocating resources, specifically citing his role as Speaker. Opposition MP Chong Zhemin argued that allocations remained the Executive's domain, while Johari stressed the importance of Parliament's independence and urged the newly formed council to deliberate before taking action.