KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat passed the Parliamentary Services Bill 2025, aimed at establishing the parliamentary service as a separate entity from the civil service, on Wednesday (March 5).
This will pave the way for more autonomy for the legislative body to manage its own operations.
The Bill, which was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, was passed via voice vote after its second and third readings.
In her wrapping-up speech, Azalina said Parliament now has the autonomy to directly propose their own budget to the Finance Ministry without the approval of the Prime Minister's Department, as is the current practice.
"The approval for Parliament's budget will be determined by both Houses of Parliament, ensuring greater financial independence, transparency, and accountability in managing its own resources.
"We are also seeing a progressive step in the history of our country by introducing financial obligations under Clause 12, which mandates the government to allocate sufficient annual funds for parliamentary services," she said.
She also assured the Lower House that the Madani government remains committed to ensure that the Bill will strengthen the parliamentary institution.
She said engagement sessions will be continued with the members of the Senate and Dewan Rakyat, relevant agencies, and non-governmental organisations.
The Parliamentary Services Bill was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 24.
Its predecessor, the Parliamentary Services Act 1966 was abolished in 1992, following which Parliament was placed under the Prime Minister's Department with a minister supervising its administration.
