Parliamentary Autonomy Must Not Mean Freedom From Accountability — Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 – Parliament’s administrative autonomy must not be mistaken for freedom from public accountability, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Azalina emphasized that Parliament does not stand above the Federal Constitution, noting that its officials remain subject to strict professional standards and public funds must continue to be managed with appropriate financial controls.

“Parliamentary independence must not be misconstrued as freedom from accountability. This distinction is crucial. Parliamentary autonomy does not mean Parliament is above the Constitution,” she wrote in an article titled “Parliamentary Service: Leveraging Parliamentary Independence for the People”.

Benchmarks of Reform and Impartial Service

Azalina stressed that the successful implementation of the Parliamentary Service Act 2025 (Act 869) should be evaluated by the institution’s effectiveness, transparency, and public trust, rather than just the creation of a new administrative framework.

Core principles outlined in her statement include:

• Enhanced Scrutiny: Institutional autonomy must strengthen Parliament’s capacity to conduct comprehensive reviews of proposed bills, government policies, and public expenditure.
• Political Neutrality: Administration, research, committee support, and facilities must serve both government and opposition Members of Parliament with complete impartiality.
• Institutional Loyalty: A professional parliamentary service must remain loyal to the Constitution and the institution of Parliament rather than the governing political coalition.
• Enduring Reforms: The administrative reforms must be structured to endure beyond political realignments, changes in government, and turnover among lawmakers.

Azalina added that a good government should welcome a stronger Parliament, as rigorous legislative oversight elevates policy quality and improves public fund management.

Act 869 and its corresponding constitutional amendments officially came into force on October 1, 2026, restoring parliamentary administrative independence more than three decades after the repeal of the original Parliamentary Service Act 1963 in 1992.

–NMT