KUALA LUMPUR: The Madani government has fulfilled its pledge to strengthen Parliament's independence by limiting executive powers through the Parliamentary Services Act 2025.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the legislation marked a significant milestone in the government's institutional reform agenda.
"This is one of the important steps that I consider a cornerstone of the Madani government's reforms, fulfilling our promise to the people by introducing and passing the Parliamentary Services Act, and limiting powers traditionally held by the government," he said at the Malaysian Parliament's Administrative Transition and Institutional Reform Ceremony today.
Anwar said the reforms demonstrated the government's political determination to strengthen parliamentary democracy, despite requiring it to relinquish powers traditionally exercised by the executive.
"This demonstrates a bold and firm political commitment. We are prepared to bring about change, even if it means surrendering some of the powers traditionally exercised by the government," he said.
He acknowledged that Malaysia's parliamentary system had long favoured the government, despite earlier efforts to establish greater institutional independence.
Anwar said the restoration of parliamentary autonomy reflected the government's determination to strengthen democratic institutions after decades of restrictions.
"Today, we are making important history, not only in giving meaning to parliamentary reform, but also to the independence and strength of our parliamentary democratic system," he said.
He said the reforms should also pave the way for greater professionalism among parliamentary staff and improve the quality and decorum of parliamentary debates.
Anwar said this would require cooperation between government and opposition MPs, while the Dewan Rakyat speaker and Dewan Negara president would play important roles in ensuring the reforms achieved their objectives.
Anwar congratulated Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor), Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN-Simpang Renggam), Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) on their appointments to the Parliamentary Service Council earlier today.
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