SHAH ALAM – Three reform-related organizations suggested to the government that the Institutional and Legal Reform Agenda Implementation Committee implement a comprehensive plan to bring good to the people in this country.
According to a joint statement by Bersih and Adil Elections (Bersih), the Institute for Democracy and Political Affairs (Ideas) and the Institute for Political Reform and Democracy (Reform), through the plan at least the people in general can know the course of the reform agenda that is being worked on.
“The plan can also facilitate Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) who have been fighting for this reform for a long time to help strengthen the reform efforts that are being drafted.
“As far as we know, the involvement to reintroduce the Parliamentary Services Act only involves government agencies and has not yet received a comprehensive view from the CSO, not even through the Special Parliamentary Select Committee (JPKP) on Fundamental Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform (2) to refined,” he said on Tuesday.
On Sunday, the first meeting of the Institutional and Legal Reform Agenda Implementation Committee agreed in principle with two proposals including the establishment of a comprehensive Malaysian Ombudsman.
The Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister’s Department said that the meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof also agreed in principle on the proposed amendment to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711) to improve the existing protection mechanism, in addition to strengthen the implementation aspect.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
According to the statement, the organization suggested that BHEUU and the relevant committee should prioritize efforts to re-draft the Parliamentary Services Act to be presented in an immediate period to give real administrative and financial autonomy to the Parliamentary institutions.
“The committee’s target is given three months to engage in business and then present this reform at the Parliament session this October.
“In relation to that, attention should also be paid to include the presentation of the Parliamentary Services Act which according to Azalina is 90 percent complete during the oral question and answer session by the Minister in Parliament last session,” he said.
Through the statement, the three organizations also questioned the status of the implementation and presentation of the Parliamentary Services Act.
He said, the government and Azalina were called upon to announce the implementation timeline and engage with CSO members.
“What is the other 10 percent that is an obstacle for the Federal Government to present this act in the nearest Parliament session and when will the Parliamentary Services Act be presented?
“Does this mean that this act will not be presented to the Government in the next Parliament session and will once again be postponed?” their question.
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