MANILA (Nov 15): Malaysia’s parliamentary reform transfers administrative powers from the Prime Minister and the government to Parliament and its Speaker, strengthening the legislature’s independence, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

He described the Parliamentary Services Act as a substantial reform involving the executive’s willingness to relinquish powers over Parliament’s administration.

“The Parliamentary Services Act precisely means that the power that’s there with the Prime Minister and the government is given to the House,” he said at a dinner held in conjunction with his working visit to the Philippines for the 49th Asean Summit and Related Summits here on Sunday night.

Also present were the Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and Malaysian ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony.

Anwar said the significance of the reform was not always fully appreciated, noting that many leaders were reluctant to surrender such powers.

He added that such reforms had been debated for 30 to 40 years, stressing that those holding high office must remain open to questioning.

The dinner, hosted by the Malaysian embassy in Manila, also featured a performance by Malaysian children.

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