Senator Council supports efforts to revive Parliamentary Service Act

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Senators Council (MSM) has expressed full support for the efforts of the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to revive the Parliamentary Service Act.

Its president Datuk Seri Khairudin Samad, in a statement, said the council hoped that the efforts to reintroduce the Parliamentary Service Act in Malaysia will be well received by all parties and successfully realised.

He was referring to Wan Junaidi's statement on Parliamentary reform as well as the findings of a report on restoring the Parliamentary Service Act by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) and the Institute for Political Reform and Democracy (REFORM).

"In line with efforts to restore the Parliamentary Service Act and the findings of a report published by BERSIH 2.0 and REFORM, it is crucial to ensure that the provisions under the Parliamentary Service Act are in line with international standards and implemented in several institutions in the developed countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, to be used as a guide," he said.

He said MSM supported important elements in Wan Junaidi's statement as well as REFORM and BERSIH, which, among others, to reintroduce the Parliamentary Service Act to give independence to Parliament and restore the provisions relating to Parliamentary services stipulated in the Federal Constitution.

In addition, to amend the provisions in the Federal Constitution in relation to the appointment of the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary of the Dewan Rakyat so that they are appointed by an independent Parliamentary Service Commission, to be formed under the Parliamentary Service Act.

He said another element would be the introduction of the Parliamentary Service Commission Act aimed at guaranteeing the independence of Parliamentary service with important features, among others, the core functions of the commission, membership in odd numbers and establishment of several departments in Parliament.

The Parliamentary services should be defined as 'Essential Philosophical Values in the Parliamentary Service' or code of conduct, as well as establishing a select committee for Parliamentary administration and finance, to assist the commission in carrying out its role, he said.

He added that the council also supported other elements including the implementation of collaborative expenditure management and budget preparation model to ensure Parliament's financial autonomy and to consider a flexible retirement scheme for Parliamentary service staff on par with those in the civil service scheme.

-- BERNAMA