The 2025 Parliament Services Bill concerning parliamentary reform and the 2025 Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill were presented for first reading at the Parliamentary Lower House meeting today.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Dato' Sri Azalina, presented the bills on Monday (February 24), stating that both would undergo a second reading within this session.
The 2025 Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill aims to amend the constitution, including revising Articles 56 and 57, and adding a new Article (5A).
The added provision clarifies that those elected as the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House or their deputies will not lose their eligibility for these positions upon joining the Parliamentary Services Council.
The Parliamentary Services Council is established by federal law, with the condition that selected members must not receive any payment, gifts, profits, or benefits.
The bill also aims to amend Article 65 of the constitution, clarifying that the Senate and House Secretaries are to be appointed by royal assent, with candidates potentially appointed from the federal civil service or from non-federal civil service personnel.
Moreover, the 2025 Parliament Services Bill seeks to establish a parliamentary services system independent of the civil service.
The functions of the Parliamentary Services Council include: appointing parliamentary services members and determining their terms and conditions of duty; overseeing all financial matters related to parliamentary services; formulating and implementing plans and training related to parliamentary services.
Through this bill, the government is required to provide sufficient annual funding to parliamentary services to enable the Parliamentary Services Council to perform its functions.