Nine agencies to begin reporting to new Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: An administrative overhaul by the Pakatan Harapan government will see nine agencies operating as independent entities and reporting directly to Parliament when it starts tomorrow.

Among these are the Election Commission, the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and the National Audit Department.

Other agencies are the Public Prosecutors Office, the Public Service Commission, the Education Service Commission and the Judicial Appointments Commission.

Pakatan has also pledged the setting up of a Dewan Rakyat Select Committee tasked to monitor every ministry. The committee will have the power to haul up Ministers and senior officials to testify before it on issues.

Besides reforming Parliament, Pakatan will have a lot on their plate in making good their promise to repeal or amend draconian laws.

Among these is reintroducing the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 which will empower Parliament to oversee its administrative affairs while guaranteeing MPs parliamentary privileges and freedom of speech. Among the laws Pakatan has promised to either amend or abolish are the Sedition Act, the Anti Fake News Act, the Goods and Services Tax, the Printing Presses and Publication Act, the National Security Council Act, the Universities and University Colleges Act and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act.

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has also said that she intended to table a Private Members’ Bill to reform prison and police lock-ups.

However, even as lawmakers arrive on their first day on the job, they are expected to be greeted by two groups of demonstrators.

The Association for the Transformation of Malaysian Taxi Drivers intends to protest against the new regulations for e-hailing services while Umno-led Pemantau Malaysia Baru wants to show up in defence of the Malays and Islam.