Can the select committees please start working?
The six subject areas are: Consideration of Bills, Budget, Home and Defence, Rights and Gender Equality, Federal-State Relations, and, Major Public Appointments.
In the beginning of this year, the speaker had also informed the public that more select committees will also be established in the next sitting which has already begun.
However, we have not seen any of these select committees commencing their responsibilities right after the establishments were announced last year. We wonder if the MPs who are sitting in these select committees know exactly what they should kick start, when and where or are they really aware of what are their oversight activities they should undertake.
The Public Service Department and Finance Ministry has been tasked to provide whatever support possible for these select committees to commence working on their respective portfolios. These include financial allocation and provision of research assistants for these committees.
The question here is, are these select committees allowed to meet when the parliamentary session is not in place? The answer in general under a Westminster system is Yes. These select committees are able to do their part even if the parliament session is over. These select committees serve as oversight bodies, calling ministers or any senior civil servants into questioning over their activities, appointments, budgets or any other projects which requires scrutiny.
Asides, select committees are also tasked in organizing public hearings or enquiries on policies or implementations which are of public interests.
The reports and recommendations of these select committees shall then be tabled in the parliament in the next session for debates or any other actions possible in order to rework- realign, amend or to abolish the said policies or implementations to the best of our nation and the people.
We hope these select committees could commence their work immediately instead of being asked to do so. All ministries and government agencies should give their utmost support to them in order to ensure accountability, transparency and competency under the new leadership to stem out corruption, power abuse and mismanagement within the administration.
The following measures that the speaker should undertake together with the parliamentary caucus on reforms and governance which is currently chaired by Anwar Ibrahim is to revive the Parliamentary Services Act which was abolished by the previous ruling BN in order to take out the parliamentary system out from the control of the executive.
The administration of the parliament is currently under the jurisdiction of the prime minister's department which we saw the importance of transforming this institution into a neutral entity in order to strengthen its role in check and balance on the government.
The parliamentary reforms at the federal level will also set a precedent for state legislative assemblies in all states to begin with their reforms on their part as well.
Such reforms should be enhanced and expedited in order to ensure other reforms within the government go through in a smoother phase.
