PETALING JAYA: A professional Parliamentary Service must maintain impartiality to ensure better governance, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic).
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said it will support Parliament and MPs and uphold the Federal Constitution in helping deliver effective and accountable governance.
“Despite political differences, government and opposition members are all members of the same Parliament.
“Consequently, parliamentary institutions, facilities, research capacity, committee support and administrative services must collectively serve the entirety of Parliament, which serves the people,” she said in a statement yesterday.
“It does not belong to the government in power or any political party.
“The government and the opposition are expected to hold differing views, as such disagreement is a core characteristic of parliamentary democracy,” she added.
Azalina was commenting on the commencement of the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA) and related constitutional amendments earlier this month.
She said the PSA aims to create the institutional capacity required for Parliament to perform its constitutional role.
“Parliamentary Service supports and facilitates MPs and senators in executing various responsibilities.
“These include debating legislation, evaluating government policies, scrutinising public expenditure, participating in Select Committees, and representing millions of Malaysians,” she said.
“These tasks require both political commitment and institutional capability,” she added.
She said a stronger Parliament could help deliver more effective and accountable government.
“Effective scrutiny does not necessarily obstruct government; it can improve it,” she added.
