Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said he was happy that his two ‘reform' Bills have been passed in the Parliament without having to undergo constitutional amendments.

Saying that the two ‘reform' Bills were very "significant", he said this also showed that the Barisan Nasional government led by him was not as weak as claimed by some quarters.

abdullah ahmad badawi pak lah parliament pc 101208 04"I'm glad the Bills have been passed because people think this government is weak, so how to pass such Bills?

"They (the critics) thought there was a need to amend the federal constitution... (that) BN doesn't have the two-thirds majority in the House so how to amend the constitution.

"But we have managed to take an approach to pass the Bills without having to amend the federal constitution. This is our strength and the BN MPs have given their full support," he told state-owned RTM at the Parliament lobby tonight.

The premier was interviewed ‘live' by the television channel shortly after the third reading of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Bill was passed in the House close to 8pm today.

To amend the constitution, the ruling Barisan Nasional will need the support of the opposiiton as a two-third majority is required to vote in favour.

Little time for deliberations

Abdullah's comments tonight came amid criticisms from within his own BN coalition and the opposition MPs, as well as from interest groups, who questioned JAC's constitutionality if it was passed without amending the federal constitution.

Abdullah first Bill - for the formation of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission - was passed yesterday.

Abdullah is pushing for the setting up of the two commissions before he leaves office next March, but his detractors have questioned the manner in which these two Bills were being rushed through in the House.

The Bills were tabled by Abdullah last Wednesday and only three days were allocated for debate by lawmakers despite these being seen as ‘major' Bills that require more time for Parliament's deliberations and consideration.

The Bill for Abdullah's third and last reform agenda - the setting up for a Special Complaints Commission - will be tabled in Parliament in its next sitting in February next year.

‘Public confidence will be restored'

Meanwhile, Abdullah also told RTM that the formation of the two commissions showed the government's commitment to the rakyat and that they will restore public confidence in the judiciary and anti-corruption agency.

"It will give a better position to the country, increase its competitiveness and attract investors to come in because they are now confident with the judiciary," he said.

He added that the negative perceptions with the judiciary and the anti-corruption agency were very strong before this.

"With the setting up of these commissions, we won't have any corruption and even if there are, it will be very little (kalau ada pun sikit sangat)," argued Abdullah.