This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on March 28, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: The parliamentary caucus on reform and governance, headed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is planning to table a motion to introduce the position of a parliamentary draftsman in the next Parliament session in July.

“We want to raise the issue in Parliament as soon as possible. We have to deal with the Cabinet and Parliament before getting the draftsman. [So] we are looking at the next parliamentary sitting,” Anwar told reporters after chairing the caucus meeting yesterday.

He highlighted that the position of a draftsman is crucial in order to facilitate direct communication between the member of parliament (MPs) and the parliamentary select committees.

Anwar (PH-Port Dickson) added that recruiting the draftsman would be part of the reformed Dewan Rakyat format.

“This is to ensure that the draftsman can coordinate with the Speaker and the MPs about his role,” he said.

Together with the introduction of the draftsman, the caucus had also decided to revive the Parliamentary Services Act 1963, which was repealed in 1992. This, Anwar said, will restore the integrity of Parliament as an independent body.

He said the caucus will meet the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat today to present the proposal.

Once the act is enforced, it is expected to restore the autonomy of the legislative in line with Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto to uphold the principle of separation of powers, he said.

There will also no longer be a minister in charge of parliamentary affairs as the Speaker will be head of the house.