KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — The Dewan Rakyat has recorded a historic milestone in its efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability by allocating a special day for briefing sessions involving the chairpersons of the Select Committees Related to Ministries (JKPK) on the reports tabled in Parliament.
Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the initiative was aimed at enhancing public understanding of the functions and roles of the Select Committees, particularly in addressing current national issues.
“This week, from today until Thursday, the Dewan Rakyat will focus on briefings on reports by the chairpersons of the Select Committees, debates on the Auditor-General’s Report, as well as explanations from ministers and the tabling of bills.
“Today also marks another historic milestone in strengthening the accountability of the Executive to Parliament, with one day allocated for briefing sessions by the chairpersons of the Select Committees (JKPK) on the reports tabled in the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
Johari made this announcement before the oral question-and-answer session at Dewan Rakyat sitting today.
The JKPK serves as a check-and-balance mechanism that reviews policies, governance, bills and issues related to specific ministries to ensure that the government carries out its responsibilities collectively and transparently.
Commenting on remarks made by several Members of Parliament regarding the alleged obligation for bills to be referred to the JKPK, Johari stressed that Standing Order 80B(3)(a) clearly states it is the JKPK’s responsibility to examine bills that have been read the first time.
He said Standing Order 80B(5) also allows the JKPK to summon ministries to provide clarifications and detailed explanations on any bill that has been tabled for first reading.
“Regarding the status of bills passed in the Dewan Rakyat without the JKPK calling the ministry to examine it, I wish to clarify that the issue does not arise,” he said.
“The bills are in order and valid, as referral to the JKPK is not part of the law-making process, but rather serves as an official platform for ministries to obtain early feedback on bills that will be tabled later,” he said.
He said the same practice had also been in place before the latest amendments to the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders.
Johari also expressed deep appreciation to all parties for the success of the Malaysian Parliament in hosting the 46th Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly from September 16 to 22.
He said the strong cooperation demonstrated by all quarters reflected Malaysia’s excellence and credibility among regional and international observers in organising the AIPA event.
“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all parties directly involved in the successful organisation of the assembly, especially the honourable Members of Parliament, officers of the Malaysian Parliament, media practitioners, as well as all parties involved both directly and indirectly,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to the message from the Speaker of the Dewan Negara, which was read out during today’s sitting, the Dewan Negara had passed 19 bills in the previous sitting, including the Gig Workers Bill 2025, the Atomic Energy Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Legal Aid and Public Defence Bill 2025. — Bernama
