KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat is mulling raising the maximum fines from RM1,000 to RM10,000 for unparliamentary behaviour by MPs during sittings.
Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said it would require an amendment of the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952, and this would create a first-class Parliament.
“The fine is to be imposed on MPs who make unparliamentary remarks, and they can also be suspended from Parliament.
“So, tonight, I am telling the MPs that we are moving forward, so this act shall be implemented to ensure every MP contributes to the betterment of the nation by pushing away all those unparliamentary actions and words.”
Johari said this at the Parliament Lecture Series 3.0: Rebuilding the Nation through Reforms in the Parliament building last night.
“I hope in the coming sessions we will have a better discussion and the MPs will adhere to this because we are pushing for a maximum of RM10,000 fine for you, or you are out of the House.”
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, was also present at the event.
Earlier, Johari mulled bringing back the Parliamentary Services Act 1963, which was abolished in 1992.
He said there is no specific legislation on parliamentary services in place in Malaysia now.
“With the current context of the modern Parliament, there is a pressing need for legislation on parliamentary services to be reintroduced to ensure the empowerment and independence of parliamentary institutions in uplifting the quality of parliamentary representations in Malaysia.” – August 19, 2023