Parliament is not above Constitution, says Azalina

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, emphasized that parliamentary administrative autonomy should not be equated with freedom from accountability, underscoring that Parliament must operate within the boundaries of the Federal Constitution.

She highlighted that the effectiveness of the Parliamentary Service Act 2025 (Act 869) should be measured by Parliament's increased professionalism, transparency, and capability rather than just administrative changes.

Azalina advocated for enhanced institutional autonomy to improve legislative scrutiny and benefit the public, asserting that Parliament should remain politically neutral and serve both government and opposition members without bias.

She also stressed the enduring nature of this reform, regardless of changes in government or political coalitions.

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

She said Parliament does not stand above the Federal Constitution, while its officials remain subject to professional standards and public funds must be managed with appropriate 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.”

Azalina said the successful implementation of the Parliamentary Service Act 2025 (Act 869) should not be judged solely by the establishment of a new administrative framework.

Instead, she said its effectiveness should be measured by the extent to which Parliament becomes more professional, effective, transparent and trusted, while being better equipped to produce quality legislation and strengthen governance.

She said institutional autonomy should enhance Parliament’s capacity to conduct more comprehensive scrutiny of bills, government policies and public expenditure, ultimately benefiting the people.

Azalina stressed that Parliament belongs neither to the government nor to any political party.

“Therefore, its administration, facilities, research and committee support must serve both government and opposition Members of Parliament impartially.

“A professional parliamentary service must maintain political neutrality. Its loyalty must lie with the institution of Parliament and the Constitution, rather than with any political coalition forming the government,” she said.

Azalina said a good government should welcome a stronger Parliament, as effective scrutiny could enhance the quality of legislation and policy formulation, as well as improve the management of public funds.

She added that the reform must also be designed to endure beyond changes in government, political coalitions and the turnover of Members of Parliament.

Act 869 and the related amendments to the Federal Constitution came into effect on Oct 1, more than three decades after the Parliamentary Service Act 1963 was repealed in 1992. — Bernama

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首相署部长拿督斯里阿扎丽娜·奥斯曼·赛义德强调，议会的行政自主权不应等同于免于问责，并强调议会必须在联邦宪法的框架内运作。

她强调，衡量《2025 年议会服务法》（第 869 号法案）的有效性，应该看议会的专业性、透明度和能力是否提高，而不仅仅是行政方面的变化。

阿扎利娜主张加强机构自主权，以改善立法监督并造福公众，她断言议会应保持政治中立，公正地为政府和反对派成员服务。

她还强调，无论政府或政治联盟如何更迭，这项改革都将是持久的。

吉隆坡，10月5日讯——首相署（法律及体制改革）部长拿督斯里阿扎丽娜·奥斯曼·赛义德表示，议会的行政自主权不应被误认为是免于问责。

她表示，议会不能凌驾于联邦宪法之上，其官员仍须遵守职业标准，公共资金必须受到适当的管控。

“议会独立绝不能被误解为免于问责。这一区别至关重要。议会自主并不意味着议会凌驾于宪法之上，”她在题为《议会服务：利用议会独立为人民服务》的文章中写道。

阿扎利娜表示，不能仅仅根据是否建立了新的行政框架来评判《2025 年议会服务法》（第 869 号法案）的成功实施。

她表示，衡量议会有效性的标准应该是，议会在多大程度上变得更加专业、高效、透明和值得信赖，同时更有能力制定高质量的立法并加强治理。

她表示，机构自主权应增强议会对法案、政府政策和公共支出进行更全面审查的能力，最终造福人民。

阿扎利娜强调，议会既不属于政府，也不属于任何政党。

“因此，其行政管理、设施、研究和委员会支持必须公正地服务于政府和反对党议员。

她表示：“专业的议会服务机构必须保持政治中立。它必须效忠于议会制度和宪法，而不是任何组成政府的政治联盟。”

阿扎利娜表示，一个好的政府应该欢迎一个更强大的议会，因为有效的监督可以提高立法和政策制定的质量，并改善公共资金的管理。

她补充说，改革的设计还必须能够经受住政府更迭、政治联盟更迭和议员更替的考验。

第869号法令及其对联邦宪法的相关修正案于10月1日生效，距离1963年《议会服务法令》于1992年被废除已过去了三十多年。——马新社

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