Johari: Parliamentary Service Act gives Parliament greater scope to strengthen oversight of government

The opening ceremony of the Conference of Speakers of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies of Malaysia 2026 took place in Cameron Highlands today. — Bernama pic

First Published: Tuesday, 08 Sep 2026 5:14 PM MYT

CAMERON HIGHLANDS, Sept 8 — The implementation of the Parliamentary Service Act (PSA) provides Parliament with the scope to streamline its legislative role, including strengthening special select committees to assist the government in identifying shortcomings and addressing public issues, says Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.

He said the enactment of the PSA created a new environment after Parliament operated under executive oversight for 33 years, enabling the legislative body to play a more independent role in contributing to national prosperity.

He said under the 10 ministry-related committees established, each is comprised of 12 Members of Parliament (MPs) representing both government and opposition backbenchers who do not hold ministerial or deputy ministerial posts.

“They have broad terms of reference and powers under the Standing Orders to summon any party for hearings on issues concerning the public or shortcomings in ministerial execution.

“These committees will produce reports and recommendations that can subsequently be debated in the Dewan Rakyat, ensuring their views and proposals receive serious attention from the executive,” he said.

He said this at a press conference following the opening of the Conference of Speakers of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies 2026 by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail here today.

Johari said this approach allowed any oversights or issues at the ministerial level to be identified early before escalating into larger problems.

He noted that previously, major decisions were predominantly made by the executive, and any operational flaws could lead to prolonged complications.

He added that the PSA also facilitated Parliament in planning and implementing reforms, as legislative-related decisions were now made by the Speaker and Parliament, with the minister in charge of law and parliamentary affairs acting as a coordinator.

Meanwhile, Johari said the conference served as a platform to share best practices between the Malaysian Parliament and state legislative assemblies to strengthen federal-state legislative ties based on the principles of federalism.

He said the conference provided an avenue to deliberate on enhancement proposals and produce resolutions to guide legislative institutions in the future.

Among the areas that could be strengthened, he said, was bringing the legislature closer to the public, including creating more opportunities for citizens and students to engage with Parliament and state assemblies. — Bernama