Parliament Must Be Free From Grip Of Any Quarters Rais

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Parliament should be free from the grip of any quarters, said Senate president Rais Yatim. 
He said it was also high time for Parliament to decide its own financial rules and expenditures.
“This is also full jurisdiction of Parliament,” he said at the swearing-in ceremony of six senators at Dewan Negara today.
Rais (above) added that Parliament should no longer be labelled as a tool to be used by any quarters to legitimise their actions.
As such, he said the Senate and the Dewan Rakyat had agreed to improve the administrative structure and legal framework with respect to Parliament so that the concept of separation of powers really exist, thus ensuring Parliament’s credibility can be enhanced.
Rais said the focus of the parliamentary reforms agenda is on the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 or Act 347, and the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 which was repealed in 1992.
He said the Standing Orders would also be improved such as in terms of sitting proceedings, the discipline of members, and special select committees should be strengthened with more implementing powers.
If all the reforms were implemented, he said a lot of tricks and tactics can be called off by the power of Parliament.

Senator Dr Wan Martina Wan Yusoff
Earlier, six newly appointed senators took their oath of office before Rais, namely Dr Wan Martina Wan Yusoff, Ajis Sitin, Juhanis Abd Aziz, Aziz Ariffin, Seruandi Saad and Fadhlina Sidek.
The three-year senatorship of Wan Martina, who was elected by the Kelantan state assembly, began on Aug 24, while Ajis and Juhanis were elected by the Pahang state assembly and began their terms on Aug 25.
Aziz and Seruandi, elected by the Perlis state assembly, began their three-year term on Aug 26, while Fadhlina, elected by the Penang state assembly, on Sept 1.
- Bernama 

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