HISTORIC BILLS SET TO BE TABLED
Bills on mandatory asset declaration, lower voting age and formation of IPCMC
AFTER a two-month hiatus, Parliament will convene tomorrow, with the tabling of significant bills on the cards.
As the government intensifies its efforts to keep its officers in check, the Dewan Rakyat sitting will kick off with a motion on mandatory asset declaration.
The new bill, which had been in the works since October last year, compels all lawmakers to declare their assets through a statutory declaration, a copy of which
would then be submitted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to be scrutinised.
At present, only Pakatan Harapan (PH) members of parliament (MP) are required to declare their assets and income, which are publicly listed on the MACC portal.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said under the new law, MPs and Dewan Negara senators who refuse to declare their assets would face disciplinary action.
Once approved, lawmakers have a threemonth deadline to declare their assets.
Barisan Nasional MPs, on the other hand, had said they have no problem declaring their assets, as long as it was required under the law.
Opposition chief Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had previously said that the former ministers, deputy ministers and lawmakers within its fold had formally declared their assets back when they were in power.
Another historic bill expected to be tabled is one to amend the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age to 18.
The cabinet decision to lower the voting age from 21 was made in September last year. If the bill is passed, it would see an additional 3.8 million eligible voters in the 15th General Election, which must be held by 2023.
Malaysia and Singapore are the only two countries in the Asean bloc which retain the voting age at 21.
With 139 MPs from the total Dewan Rakyat membership of 222, PH is nine votes shy of a twothirds majority — a number needed to amend the Federal Constitution. Obtaining a twothirds majority, however, may prove a tough feat.
The lower house had attempted to amend the Federal Constitution in the last sitting in April to restore Sabah and Sarawak to their original status in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
During the block vote on April 9, no MPs opposed the bill, but 59 out of the 197 present had abstained from voting.
This sitting would also see the motion to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) being tabled.
Originally drafted in 2005, the proposal to set up the police oversight body was a result of engagement by police with civil society groups and representatives from the Bar Council in a Royal Commission of Inquiry,
which called for a review of certain aspects of police authority.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador is all for IPCMC to be formed, saying this would improve the effectiveness, welfare and image of the police.
His predecessor, Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, had voiced his objection to handing over the power to take disciplinary action against its personnel to the IPCMC, adding that serving and retired personnel were also against the move.
The second meeting of the second session of the 14th Parliament will sit for 12 days until July 18.
This will be followed with the sitting of the Dewan Negara for seven days between July 22 and July 31.