Senate wants PSA revived
Beh Lih YiPublished: Oct 14, 2005 8:38 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
In another clear message to the government, the Dewan Negara House Committee today called for the revival of the Parliamentary Services Act 1963.
In another clear message to the government, the Dewan Negara House Committee today called for the revival of the Parliamentary Services Act 1963.
The committee, which met this morning, resolved to urge the government to reintroduce the act, repealed in 1992, to guarantee the independence of Parliament.
It wanted the act to be reviewed and amended to be relevant with the prevailing situation.
The committee also asked for the deferment of any attempts to change the parliamentary administration - be it creating a new post or setting up a new department.
"If the government agrees to revive the PSA, then the creation of any new post or department would become irrelevant," said Senator Lee Sing Chooi when contacted.
Lee is among the five members of the committee, headed by Senate President Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh.
He said the Senate will table a motion to revive the PSA in the Upper House during the next meeting which is scheduled for December 7 to 22.
Show of unity
Yesterday, parliamentarians led by Backbenchers Club head Shahrir Samad staged a historic show of unity in the Dewan Rakyat when almost all of the 50-odd present stood up to support the revival of the PSA.
This came in the wake of unhappiness over the announcement to set-up a new Parliament Department, which was later watered down to a single administrative post.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz however said the Committees of both Houses must decide to allow him to bring the proposal to the government.
Shahrir later dismissed Nazri's excuse as the Hansard showed that the committees were never involved in the introduction or the repeal of the PSA.
It is still uncertain when the Dewan Rakyat House Committee chaired by Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib will meet.
'Wake-up call'
Commenting on the Dewan Negara committee's decision, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said he hoped the Senate's swift response will 'wake up' everyone in the Parliament, government and civil society.
"I applaud the Dewan Negara House Committee's immediate and vigorous defence of the Parliament's independence, autonomy and privileges," he said when contacted.
"It is the first time that the Dewan Negara is taking the lead in a public interest matter," he added.
Lim also agreed with Shahrir's argument that the committees' decisions were not necessary in reviving the PSA.
"If the government is serious, it should just reintroduce the act. But at the same time we must try every line and track to put more pressure, it will be better," he said.
The PSA outlines responsibilities in managing administrative issues of Parliament and allows the institution to administer and manage its own affairs such as recruitment of staff and their wages.
The committee, which met this morning, resolved to urge the government to reintroduce the act, repealed in 1992, to guarantee the independence of Parliament.
It wanted the act to be reviewed and amended to be relevant with the prevailing situation.
The committee also asked for the deferment of any attempts to change the parliamentary administration - be it creating a new post or setting up a new department.
"If the government agrees to revive the PSA, then the creation of any new post or department would become irrelevant," said Senator Lee Sing Chooi when contacted.
Lee is among the five members of the committee, headed by Senate President Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh.
He said the Senate will table a motion to revive the PSA in the Upper House during the next meeting which is scheduled for December 7 to 22. Show of unity
Yesterday, parliamentarians led by Backbenchers Club head Shahrir Samad staged a historic show of unity in the Dewan Rakyat when almost all of the 50-odd present stood up to support the revival of the PSA.
This came in the wake of unhappiness over the announcement to set-up a new Parliament Department, which was later watered down to a single administrative post.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz however said the Committees of both Houses must decide to allow him to bring the proposal to the government.
Shahrir later dismissed Nazri's excuse as the Hansard showed that the committees were never involved in the introduction or the repeal of the PSA.
It is still uncertain when the Dewan Rakyat House Committee chaired by Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib will meet.
'Wake-up call'
Commenting on the Dewan Negara committee's decision, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said he hoped the Senate's swift response will 'wake up' everyone in the Parliament, government and civil society.
"I applaud the Dewan Negara House Committee's immediate and vigorous defence of the Parliament's independence, autonomy and privileges," he said when contacted. "It is the first time that the Dewan Negara is taking the lead in a public interest matter," he added.
Lim also agreed with Shahrir's argument that the committees' decisions were not necessary in reviving the PSA.
"If the government is serious, it should just reintroduce the act. But at the same time we must try every line and track to put more pressure, it will be better," he said.
The PSA outlines responsibilities in managing administrative issues of Parliament and allows the institution to administer and manage its own affairs such as recruitment of staff and their wages.
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