Shamrahayu A. Aziz

Introduction The Legislatures in Malaysia State Legislature Federal Legislature Powers of the Houses Legislative Procedure Parliamentary Privileges Effectiveness of Malaysian Parliament

Parliament is a symbol of Parliamentary Democracy

Three main functions: democratic system (scrutinize public expenditure), prime law making body for the nation, forum to make the government accountable

Parliamentary system is not new to the Malaysian: SS, FMS (Federal Legislative Council), Federation of Malaya (1948)

First parliament 1955 – Federal Legislative Assembly

Present Parliament is of Westminster model To govern independent Tanah Melayu through

representatives

Terms of Reference: (Reid Commission) "to make recommendations for a federal

form of constitution for the country as a single, independent, self-governing unit within the Commonwealth based on Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislature"

Article 44"The Legislative authority of the Federation shall be

vested in a Parliament, which shall consist of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and two Majlis (Houses of Parliament) to be known as the Dewan Negara (Senate) and Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives).“

8th Schedule Item 3 – State Legislature consists of Ruler and Legislative

Assembly Item 4 – Legislative Assembly consists of such number

determined by the state Item 5 – Qualifications of members i. citizen ii. Of, or over 21 years of age iii. Resident in the state Item 6 – Disqualification for membership

Yang di-Pertuan AgongHouse of RepresentativesSenate

General – Parliament controls of itself (autonomy)in term of organisation and administration(Parliamentary Services Act 1963 – repealed in 1992)

For that purpose Parliament has committees of the House, they are namely:

Standing Order CommitteePrivileges CommitteeElection Committee House CommitteePublic Account Committee (not in the Dewan Negara)

Constitutional Commission recommended:

1. Senate would have less direct control over the legislation and administration

2. The ultimate responsibility should rest with that House of Parliament which had been elected by direct elections

3. A money Bill shall only be introduced in the House of Representative and other Bills may be introduced in either house

4. Power of the Senate is not equal to the powers of the House of Representatives; but will be having revising and delaying powers

5. Ministers will be able to continue in office notwithstanding an adverse vote in the senate

Delegation of Legislative Power It is normally done with a Parent Act

Kulasingam v. Commissioner of Lands, Federal Territory [1982] 1 MLJ 204

Hashim Yeop Sani "there is nothing to prevent Parliament from delegating power to legislate on minor and administrative matters".

Eng Keock Cheng v. Public Prosecutor [1966] 1 MLJ 18 (FC)

Similar decision.

Residual Legislative Powers The term of reference: “the question of residual legislative

power to be examined by and to be the subject of recommendations by the Commission”.

Article 55 Summon, Prorogue and Dissolve Article 66 Royal assent: At at the beginning of every Act, there is

an enacting Clause, worded as "Be it an Act enacted by the Yang di-Petuan Agong, with the advice and consent of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat in Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows".

Role revising chamber/mature

deliberation scrutinize government’s

action legitimize the law protect the position of states Powers Lesser than House of

Representatives

Composition Reid Commission – different opinion; elected or

nominated Article 45 – Elected and appointed members - 2 members from each state –

elected in accordance with 7th Schedule - 2 from KL, 1 from Labuan, 1 from

Putrajaya - 40 appointed by the Yang di-

Pertuan Agong

Role Prime minister is from here Political forum Prime source of Legislation Scrutinize policies and administration Has the power to override the Senate – 1 month

in Money Bill and twelve months in non-Money Bill

Composition Article 46

Qualification Article 47: Senate 30 years. House of Representatives 21 years Not disqualified in pursuance of Article 48.

Disqualification Articles 48, 50, 53 Fan Yew Teng v. Setia Usaha, Dewan Ra‘ayat & Ors

[1975] 1MLJ 41 (HC Malaysia) Articles 50 the seat vacant in pursuance to Article 50(1) In case of vacancies, the replacement shall be

made within 60 days. (Art. 54) – except when the vacancy establishes within 2 yrs before the HOR stands dissolved

Article 53 Decisions as to disqualification Article 52 Absent from the House of Parliament for six months

Speaker of Dewan Rakyat – Article 57

President of the Senate – Article 56

Article 66 (1): "The power of Parliament to make laws shall be

exercised by Bills passed by both Houses (or, in the cases mentioned in Article 68, the House of Representatives) and, except as otherwise provided in this Article, assented to by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Article 66 (2): "Subject to Article 67, a Bill may originate in either House“ Article 67 provides for restriction on introduction of Bills and

moving of amendments involving taxation, expenditure etc – shall be introduced or moved by a Minister and shall be introduced in HOR

Before going to Parliament: Pre-Bill stage In the Parliament: First Reading, Second

Reading, Committee Stage, Third Reading. Having been passed in the House where

the Bill was introduced the Bill will then be sent to another House, in which it will go through the same process and similar stages. If the Bill is passed by the second House, it will be submitted to the YDPA for his royal assent.

If not passed by the second House (Conflict between the two Houses)

Resolving Conflict between the two Houses Money Bill (Money Bill - Defined in art. 68 (6) If the conflict involves money Bill the

provisions in Article 68(1) is the most relevant. If money Bill is passed by the House of Representatives, and having been sent to House of Senate, is not passed by the Senate within a month, it shall be presented to the YDPA for his royal assent and the provisions on the royal assent is applicable.

Non-Money Bill The Senate has a delaying power; if the Bill is not passed by the Senate, it shall be returned to the HOR. The Bill shall be read again (for the 2nd time) in a period not less than one year. Following that, if the Bill is passed by the HOR, it will again, be sent to the Senate. If the Senate does not pass the Bill, or pass the Bill with amendment not agreeable by the HOR, )unless otherwise ordered by the HOR) the Bill will be sent to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his royal assent. Article 68(2) The Pesticides (Amendment) 2004 Bill Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz “The DN is not a rubber stamp institution, they (Senators) have a role to play. It’s something good, which shows that senators scrutinised every detail in the Bills tabled” The Star, 27th July 2004, at.22

General – the Bill is passed by both Houses and obtained a Royal assent:

"Be it an Act enacted by the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Petuan Agong, with the advice and consent of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat in Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows".

Change in the requirement of Royal Assent: - The original provisions of Article 66(4) and (5) on the

Royal assent- Constitution (Amendment) Act 1983 (Act A566) (took effect 16th December 1983) – 15 days rule

-Constitution (Amendment) Act 1984 (Act A584) amended Article 66(4) and (5) (took effect on 20th January 1984) – 30 days rule/second chance for the royal assent

-Constitution (Amendment) Act 1994 (Act A885) (took effect 24th June 1994) – 30 days / No second chance

Parliamentary privilege refers to particular legal rights which apply to each House of Parliament. It is a term to describe the laws relating to:

(1) the privileges or immunities of the Parliament; and

(2) the powers of the Parliament, particularly its power to hold inquiries and to punish contempt.

Parliamentary privileges means, “ the sum of peculiar rights enjoyed by

each house collectively… and by members of each house individually, without which they could not discharge their functions…”

Articles 63 and 72 Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952,

Revised 1988 (Act 347). Standing Order 23(2) “Apa-apa pertanyaan yang telah diberitahu kepada

Setiausaha atau yang telah diminta kebenaran hendak dikeluarkan dengan tidak didahulukan dengan pemberitahu, jika pada timbangan Tuan Yang di-Pertua menyalahi hak boleh mengeluarkan pertanyaan atau telah dikeluarkan dengan sengaja hendak menghalang atau merosakkan aturan perjalanan Majlis Mesyuarat, atau menaikkan perasaan bersakit-sakit hati atau bermusuh-musuhan di antara satu kaum dengan satu kaum dalam Malaysia, atau melanggar apa-apa syarat dalam Perlembagaan atau Akta Hasutan 1948, atau Peraturan ini, maka bolehlah Tuan Yang di-Pertua mengeluarkan perintah:

“berkehendakkan pertanyaan itu dicap atau dikeluarkan dengan apa-apa pindaan yang diperintahkan oleh Tuan Yang di-Pertua; atau

  berkehendakkan ahli yang mengeluarkan pertanyaan itu

diberitahu iaitu pertanyaannya tidak dibenarkan.   Jika sesuatu pertanyaan itu tidak dibenarkan oleh Tuan Yang di-

Pertua, maka ahli yang mengeluarkan pertanyaan itu hendaklah diberitahu dengan surat oleh Setiausaha dengan diterangkan sebab-sebabnya tidak dibenarkan itu.

  Walau apa jua syarat yang disebutkan dahulu daripada ini,

seseorang Menteri yang diarahkan sesuatu pertanyaan kepadanya, dengan diperkenankan oleh Tuan Yang di-Pertua, boleh enggan menjawab pertanyaan itu oleh sebab hendak memelihara faedah orang ramai, dan keengganannya menjawab itu tidak boleh dibahaskan atau disoal.

  Setiausaha adalah diberi kuasa menyunting pertanyaan-

pertanyaan yang dihantarkan”

How do the Parliamentary Privileges work

The Parliamentary Privileges apply only to matters discussed in parliament or parliamentary proceedings.

Inspector General of Police v Lee Kim Hong [1979] 2 MLJ 291)

Lim Woon Chong v Public Prosecutor [1979] 2 MLJ 264.

Fan Yew Teng v. Government of Malaysia [1976] 2 MLJ 262

Abdul Rahman Talib v Seenivassagam & Anor [1966] 2 MLJ 66, 78

Mark Koding v Public Prosecutor [1982] 2 MLJ 120

Lim Guan Eng v Public Prosecutor