KUALA LUMPUR (March 4): The Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday passed an amendment to the Federal Constitution, enabling the Dewan Rakyat Speaker and the Dewan Negara President to be part of the Parliamentary Service Commission, with the required two-thirds majority support.

This passage paves the way for the government to table the Parliamentary Services Bill 2025, aimed at reviving the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA).

In a bloc vote called by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, 148 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted in favour of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025, while 57 MPs abstained. The remaining 17 MPs were absent.

The bill was debated by 18 MPs after being tabled for a second reading by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The bill, among other things, seeks to amend the Federal Constitution, including revising Articles 56 and 57 by inserting a new clause (5A).

The clause states that a person elected as Dewan Negara president or Dewan Rakyat speaker, as well as their deputies, shall not be disqualified from holding the position due to their membership in the Parliamentary Service Commission, provided that they do not receive any remuneration, gifts, profits, or benefits from it.

Additionally, Subclause 4(a) allows the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint the clerks of both houses, either from the public service or externally. They will serve until their term expires, their appointment is revoked, or they resign.

When tabling the bill for its second reading, Anwar said the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025 is not merely a minor amendment but an effort to strengthen the doctrine of separation of powers, ensuring that Parliament functions as an independent, authoritative, and competitive legislative body.

“The beauty of the concept of separation of powers lies in its balance. Without excessive control by any party, justice can be upheld, freedom preserved, and power not abused. This is the foundation of a transparent and integrity-driven nation,” he said.

Anwar also said that the government has agreed to appoint two senators and four members of parliament (including two from the opposition) to the Parliamentary Services Council to improve its membership.

Earlier, several opposition lawmakers expressed support for the concept of separation of powers but criticised the lack of consultation on the proposed Parliamentary Services Act (PSA).

They raised concerns over transparency in the appointment of parliamentary officers and staff, fearing it could lead to more political appointees.

The opposition urged the government to defer voting on the bill and establish a special committee to ensure it is comprehensive and thoroughly reviewed.

“The devil is in the details. There are many aspects that need further review and consultation with the opposition,” said Wan Ahmad Fayhsal (Perikatan Nasional — Machang).

However, in her winding-up speech, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said assured that with the introduction of the PSA, parliament would be able to function more independently, without reliance on the executive branch, thereby strengthening its legislative role.

“This is a significant step forward for parliamentary democracy in our country. The restoration of parliamentary services not only reaffirms the autonomy of the institution but also reinforces the separation of powers, a fundamental principle of our constitutional democracy,” Azalina said.

With the passage of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025, the house will now proceed to debate the Parliamentary Service Bill 2025, which will be up for vote on Wednesday.

The Parliamentary Services Act was first enacted in 1963 under the administration of Tunku Abdul Rahman, just months before Malaysia’s formation, allowing parliament to manage its own administration, staffing, and finances.

However, the Act was repealed in 1992, shifting responsibility for staffing and parliamentary operations to government agencies such as the Public Services Department (JPA) and the Ministry of Finance.

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