Parliament's independence from Putrajaya kicks in today

BernamaPublished: Oct 1, 2026 10:16 AM

(Editor's Note: Paragraph 2 was added for context, it does not appear in the original Bernama copy.)

The Parliamentary Services Act 2025 (Act 869) and related amendments to the Federal Constitution take effect today.

The amendments provide for the establishment of the Parliamentary Service and Parliamentary Service Council, allowing Parliament to manage its own administration independent of the public service system - including management of its staff and how it spends its budget.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the law’s enactment is a significant achievement for the Madani government’s institutional reform agenda and a historic milestone for the Parliament, 34 years after the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 (Act 394) was repealed under the Constitution (Amendment) Act 1992 (Act A837), effective Nov 20, 1992...

(Editor's Note: Paragraph 2 was added for context, it does not appear in the original Bernama copy.)

The Parliamentary Services Act 2025 (Act 869) and related amendments to the Federal Constitution take effect today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the law’s enactment is a significant achievement for the Madani government’s institutional reform agenda and a historic milestone for Parliament, 34 years after the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 was repealed under the Constitution (Amendment) Act 1992, effective Nov 20, 1992.

“More than three decades on, Act 869 restores Parliament’s autonomy by creating a dedicated parliamentary service, giving it greater independence and efficiency in managing its administration, human resources and affairs.

“This will further strengthen Parliament’s position as the highest legislative body in the country’s parliamentary democracy,” she said in a statement today.

Azalina also said the government expressed its gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar for granting consent to set Oct 1 as the date on which Act 869 and related amendments to the Federal Constitution would come into force.

Commitment to separation of powers

The reform also reflects the government’s commitment to upholding the doctrine of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances among the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

Interview with Minister at PMO azalina othman said 060726 circa July 2026 Minister of Law and Institutional Reform in the Department of the Prime Minister of Malaysia

“With stronger institutional autonomy, Parliament can carry out its constitutional functions and responsibilities to the people more independently, effectively and credibly,” Azalina (above) said.

She also thanked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the cabinet and all stakeholders, including NGOs and CSOs, for their cooperation in bringing about the reform.

“The government will continue to pursue its institutional reform agenda in a structured and sustained manner to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions and ensure public confidence in national institutions is maintained,” she added.

Cabinet Ministers meeting circa july 22nd 2026 220726 feat Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

The Parliamentary Services Bill 2025 was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 24, 2025, followed by its second reading on March 4, 2025.

The Dewan Rakyat passed the bill on March 5, followed by the Dewan Negara on March 20, 2025. Sultan Ibrahim consented on July 9, and the bill was gazetted on July 18, 2025.

- Bernama

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Will Sabah and Sarawak get ALL MA63. Clauses. Fulfilled within this year,,? Honest answer. Don't talk about gkgming committees and stakeholders! Get them DONE; 1/3 Parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak Is EC doing it ? Why talk. About state seats and not parliamentary seats! Don't talk about it TIME! If you cannot do it, say so d walk out Gerrymandering is dirty politics. Clean it at once!

ScarletPanda973103:10 PM, 01 Oct 2026

A real achievement by the Madani govt. After so many years of on and off by the previous govts, PMX Anwar and his cabinet took the bull by the horns, underwent several changes/criticisms and changes again. It is still not perfect, but it is a positive step forward. Congrats to Anwar and his govt.

Blue Skies02:48 PM, 01 Oct 2026

Superficial independence. Who heads it and appointed by whom? The law provides for the king to appoint a couple of officials. How is this separation of powers? How is this an independent highest legislative body? No rules on the role it plays in the face of a hung assembly. How does this strengthen parliamentary democracy? This law was passed by unthinking MPs who had no guts to make amendments to ensure real independence and empowering of the people’s rights.

GP202501:47 PM, 01 Oct 2026

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ScarletPanda973103:10 PM, 01 Oct 2026

Blue Skies02:48 PM, 01 Oct 2026

GP202501:47 PM, 01 Oct 2026

Fahmi the person responsible for disseminate of information on behalf of PH to all rakyat should act accordingly.

Wakeup Malaysia12:25 PM, 01 Oct 2026

This deserves more attention. After 34 years, Parliament regains control over its own administration, staffing and budget. These may sound like dry administrative matters, but they matter to how independently Parliament can do its job and hold the government accountable. Credit to PMX, Azalina and the MADANI government for delivering this reform. Pakatan Harapan has long championed stronger institutions, and this is a concrete step towards that promise. Of course, more reforms are needed. But takkan bila ada kemajuan, kita tak boleh acknowledge? Demand further progress, yes. Give credit where it is due, also yes. Stronger parliamentary institutions benefit every Malaysian, whoever forms the next government.

BrownJaguar586911:18 AM, 01 Oct 2026

This is not really a real reforms - only the mechanism and infra-structure per se. Real reforms is the person running it and not appointed by the Executive. True separation of power ?

GrayParrot929011:12 AM, 01 Oct 2026

Agree. Is the person running it appointed by the executive with the help of a team among whom are appointed officials by the king. How is this separation of powers?

GP202501:40 PM, 01 Oct 2026

But changing who runs an institution without changing the rules that govern it leaves us dependent on whoever happens to be in charge. That’s precisely why the mechanism matters. Giving Parliament control over its own staff, administration and budget is a substantive reform. These affect its ability to function independently. Calling them “only infrastructure” understates their importance. If your concern is executive influence over appointments, that deserves scrutiny too. But an unfinished reform agenda doesn’t make a reform already delivered meaningless. Credit to the MADANI government for this step. We can acknowledge progress and still demand more.

BrownJaguar586911:52 AM, 01 Oct 2026

Well done to the MADANI government for successfully pushing through this historic institutional reform.Restoring full autonomy to Parliament completely separates the legislature from the Executive, putting the constitutional principle of separation of powers into real practice. We hope this give us higher quality MPs, a transparent and clean government similar to Singapore, and laws that genuinely put the people first.

BrownGoose278511:06 AM, 01 Oct 2026

Well done! Reforms take time and the Madani govmt has been at it for the last 3 years. The problem is people want to see miracles in 3 years. Law reforms have to go through several processes before coming to Parliament and even when it does, our MPs may fail to pass them, like the law to limit PMship to 2 terms. I will continue to support this govmt under PM Anwar Ibrahim although he is having a challenging time holding coalition partners in line. Let his govmt complete the mandate given by rakyat to end of his term, and for us voters, it is paramount to keep the kleptokrats far away for as long as possible.

OrangeCat1910:32 AM, 01 Oct 2026

Clean up the stable . Only clean hands can handle money, No exceeding budget for every ministry.

ScarletPanda973103:15 PM, 01 Oct 2026