Proposed reforms to the Penang state legislative assembly may see a breakthrough soon with the Standing Orders Committee reviewing the proposal.

PKR Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Ong Chin Wen, who submitted the proposal last year, was called to brief the committee members on the matter at 10.30am today.

Ong received the notice to brief the committee members last week.

"I'm prepared to explain to them why there is a necessity to push for legislature reforms," he told Malaysiakini.

In May 2015, the state assembly passed several amendments to the Standing Orders, including an extension to the oral questioning time and restriction on lawmakers from uttering sexist remarks.

However, more important elements in the legislature like forming select committees to oversee different government portfolios, have yet to be passed.

"Some may say, since we already have the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), we don't need to set up other standing committees but we should not just rely on PAC to play the role of checks and balances," Ong said.

"By definition, the function of PAC should be more on monitoring the government's accounts and financial management, including scrutinising cases mentioned in the auditor-general's report."

Ong said there are still a lot of other government policies and issues that need to be monitored.

"If we can set up another three committees, then we can monitor the government more effectively and hold them to the accountability."

Selangor assembly reforms

Ong said Selangor state assembly last year held a public hearing to probe the reason behind the persistence of dengue outbreak and whether the measures adopted by the government were effective.

Following Pakatan's rule, the Selangor state assembly kickstarted their reforms by setting up Selcat to investigate any government malpractice and abuse of power, he added.

He noted that the committee not only summoned public officers to testify in public inquiry, but also allowed the public to sit in and listen to the whole process.

"After that, they move forward to set up other similar select committees," Ong said.

"What I try to propose now is more or less the same with what Selangor is doing.

"But instead of setting up something liked Selcat, I propose to directly set up three standing committees."

Five standing committees

Last May, Ong tabled a motion to propose the amendments to the Standing Orders, to empower the legislature to monitor state executive powers.

These included a new provision for the operation and jurisdiction of select committees, including the power to hold public hearings and summon witnesses.

He also proposed that the House set up three other new permanent select committees (also known as standing committees) for the state land and mines department, local government, agency, statutory bodies and companies.

At the time, Ong's motion was rejected by speaker Law Choo Kiang, and the assemblyperson was told to directly submit his proposal to the Standing Orders Committee for discussion.

Currently, the Penang Assembly only has five standing committees (Rights and Privilege Committee, Standing Orders Committee, Constitution Committee, State Assembly Committee and Public Accounts Committee).

Law, who is also PKR Bukit Tambun assemblyperson, chairs the Standing Orders Committee.