Journal of the Malaysian Parliament

Editorial Notes

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Prelims

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Pemerkasaan Pemimpin Masa Depan: Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) 3.0 Lengkapkan Belia Dengan Kemahiran Kepimpinan Kritikal Demi Untuk Pembangunan Negara

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This study examines the effectiveness of the National Service Training Program (PLKN) 3.0 as a strategic platform for empowering Malaysian youth through leadership and technical skill development. PLKN 3.0 is a comprehensive initiative that combines basic military training with technical training. The first phase of the program involves 45 days of military training focusing on discipline, resilience, and leadership. Activities such as critical situation simulations, group training, and physical challenges are aimed at building mental strength and the ability to work in teams. Participants then proceed to the second phase, which involves technical training at colleges or universities. During this phase, they are exposed to specialised skills in strategic sectors such as digital technology, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, making them more competitive in the global job market. The study also highlights the role of the Servant Leadership model applied in PLKN 3.0, with values such as social responsibility, teamwork, and integrity, forming the foundation of the program. This approach not only equips participants with technical skills but also fosters a sense of unity through social projects and community service. PLKN 3.0 is supported by a long-term monitoring strategy and the establishment of a monitoring committee to assess the program’s effectiveness regularly. This allows for adjustments to be made to ensure the program remains relevant to the needs of youth and national development aspirations. The study further highlights PLKN 3.0’s role in fostering national unity and a sense of national identity. Overall, this study finds that PLKN 3.0 plays a significant role not only as a platform for individual development but also as a catalyst for social and economic innovation. The implementation of PLKN 3.0 is a testament to the government’s commitment to ensuring youth development aligns with Malaysia’s vision of becoming a prosperous, advanced, and inclusive nation by 2030.

Akta Perkhidmatan Parlimen 2025: Reformasi dalam Institusi Parlimen Malaysia

Dato'Dr. Ahmad Husaini Bin Abdul Rahman — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This study examines the development and institutional reform of the Malaysian Parliament through the enactment of the Parliamentary Services Act 2025 (Act 869). As the supreme legislative body, Parliament plays a vital role in law-making, oversight, and holding the executive accountable within the framework of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The history of the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 and its repeal in 1992 revealed significant limitations on Parliament’s autonomy in administration, finance, and human resource management. Using legal document analysis and reference to international reports such as The Financing and Administration of Parliament by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), this discussion explores the rationale, objectives, and implications of reintroducing the Act. The key finding highlights that Act 869 establishes the Parliamentary Services Council (Majlis Perkhidmatan Parlimen, MPP) as the highest administrative authority, granting Parliament autonomy over operations, financial planning, and staffing, thereby reinforcing the principle of separation of powers. This reform not only enhances the efficiency and professionalism of parliamentary services but also strengthens the credibility of the legislature at both national and international levels. Ultimately, Act 869 represents a significant milestone in consolidating Malaysia’s democracy towards a more

Who controls time controls Parliament: The case for shared control of parliamentary time in the Dewan Rakyat

Maha Balakrishnan — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In the last six years, there have been rapid developments in efforts to strengthen the oversight role of the Dewan Rakyat and the representative function of its MPs, but little progress in expanding and strengthening the Dewan Rakyat’s law-making function. One structural impediment to further progress in strengthening the Dewan Rakyat is that control of the Dewan Rakyat’s calendar and agenda is still principally in the hands of the executive branch. This paper presents an analysis of how parliamentary time is set, prioritised and allocated in the Dewan Rakyat, specifically in terms of non-Government or Private Members’ business, and their participation in controlling the parliamentary calendar. This paper also evaluates the models in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Scotland for the control of their parliamentary calendar and agenda, and the allocation and programming of time for Private Members’ business. This paper concludes with evaluations and recommendations on measures that can be implemented within the short term to improve the role of the Dewan Rakyat and its members in the setting, prioritising and allocation of parliamentary time.

Tatacara dan Prosedur Parlimen di Malaysia: Ayat Mengundang-Undangkan dalam Undang-Undang

Jackie Mary Fernandis, Mohamad Tarmizi bin Ahmad, Wan Noorzaleha binti Wan Hasan — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Secara umumnya, kita mengetahui bahawa Perkara 66(3) Perlembagaan Persekutuan telah memperuntukkan bahawa Rang Undang-undang (“RUU”) hendaklah dikemukakan untuk perkenan Yang di-Pertuan Agong sebelum suatu RUU itu boleh diwartakan dan dikuatkuasakan. Namun, Peraturan Mesyuarat 50A Peraturan-peraturan Majlis Mesyuarat Dewan Negara (“PPMMDN”) dan Peraturan Mesyuarat 95 Peraturan-peraturan Majlis Mesyuarat Dewan Rakyat (“PPMMDR”) telah memperuntukkan formula penentuan untuk mengundang-undangkan suatu RUU sebelum RUU itu dikemukakan untuk perkenan Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Artikel ini tidak bertujuan untuk mencadangkan mahupun mengemukakan apa-apa pindaan terhadap undang-undang dan prosedur sedia ada. Pada hujung artikel ini, penulis berhasrat untuk memberikan pemahaman yang lebih mendalam kepada pembaca umum berhubung tujuan dan cara penetapan peletakan ayat mengundang-undangkan suatu RUU selaras dengan proses perundangan Majlis Parlimen. Artikel ini turut bertujuan mendedahkan kepentingan peletakan ayat mengundang- undangkan suatu undang-undang yang diluluskan oleh Majlis Parlimen sebelum undang-undang itu dikemukakan untuk mendapatkan perkenan Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Penghasilan artikel ini berdasarkan pada kajian kepustakaan dan perbandingan dengan Parlimen di negara lain yang turut mengamalkan tatacara peletakan ayat mengundang-undangkan suatu undang-undang seperti di Singapura, Indonesia dan India. Artikel ini merupakan hasil dapatan dan pandangan para penulis susulan penelitian terhadap maklumat yang dirujuk seperti Perlembagaan Persekutuan, Peraturan- peraturan Majlis Mesyuarat Dewan Negara, Peraturan-peraturan Majlis Mesyuarat Dewan Rakyat dan undang-undang terdahulu yang telah diluluskan dalam kedua-dua Majlis Parlimen di Malaysia.

Kemampanan Pendidikan Malaysia semasa Era Pasca-Normal: Analisis Faktor, Kesan dan Tindakan dalam Isu-isu Pendidikan di Parlimen

Muhammad Qhidir bin Mat Isa, Dr Zuraini Seruji — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The aim of this research is to conduct a thematic analysis of issues in the field of education in line with Malaysia’s effort to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education throughout the Post-Normal phase. A descriptive-qualitative research design utilizing Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis instrument was used to analyze textual data of 50 Hansards from the Special Chamber. Findings showed that a significant portion of the issues in Malaysian education in Parliament post- COVID-19 is significantly related to the problem of infrastructure, followed by issues such as the availability of policies, effectiveness of programs, financial assistance afforded to educational institutions, and other policies on various issues. Infrastructure issues are divided into two: demand and need. The most obvious implications that indicating overcrowding problem are characterized by the number of classes exceeding the school’s building capacity, the operation of two sessions, and the number of students in the class exceeding the projection. The government is found to be proactive in following two guidelines to meet each demand and overcome the overcrowding problem. The second most significant theme regarding the issue of education that was raised in Parliament is the availability of policies and the effectiveness of government programs conducted specifically for marginalized groups such as Orang Asli, disabled children, refugees, and undocumented citizens, in which the vast majority of motions for this issue voice the various constraints faced in obtaining access towards quality education. The main effect of this issue is causing the marginalization of both school attendance and securing a job. The government was found to have the availability and clarity in terms of policies and programs to address the issues of this group.

Petisyen Parlimen: Penilaian tatacara petisyen Dewan Rakyat dan halatuju untuk merealisasikan sebuah Dewan Rakyat berteraskan Rakyat

Maha Balakrishnan — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Parliamentary petitions are an established mechanism in legislative bodies around the world. Yet, the petitions procedures in the Malaysian parliament and its sub-national legislatures have not flourished. This study focuses on unpacking the petitions procedure in the Dewan Rakyat and impediments to its usability, by applying a two-level comparative analysis: first at the international level involving the UK House of Commons and Canadian House of Commons; and second at the sub-national level involving the state legislative assemblies of Selangor, Sarawak, and Sabah. This study identifies that existing rules do not provide sufficient clarification about the scope, format, and content of petitions including on vital features. The rules also do not clearly delineate the process for submitting, presenting, and deliberating petitions. This study concludes with recommendations to strengthen the procedure in the Dewan Rakyat so that the fundamental purpose of parliamentary petitions can be achieved, which is to provide a pathway for public participation in the parliamentary process.

Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) as a Vehicle for Building Local Economies and Accelerating the Localising of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Initiatives of the United Nations and Lessons for Malaysian Parliamentarians

Prof. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

There is renewed interest in exploring alternative economic models that balance economic, social, and environmental concerns in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) has been recognised as a key approach for inclusive and sustainable development, particularly by promoting decent work, reducing inequalities for vulnerable communities, and fostering social transformation. Consequently, SSE has been strongly promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This paper aims to elucidate the transformative potential of SSE by exploring how it enhances SDGs delivery and fosters a more inclusive and sustainable development agenda, and examining how it challenges the prevailing emphasis on economic growth within dominant development theories. The implications of these global discussions for Malaysian policymakers, particularly Members of Parliament who advocate for equitable economic distribution in national planning such as the 13^th Malaysia Plan, are also examined. Employing policy commentary approach, this paper systematically reviews key UN initiatives and documents, namely, the UN Taskforce on SSE (UNTFSSE), initiatives by ILO, two pivotal UN Resolutions on SSE, and the UN Secretary-General’s report on SSE. This approach is grounded by qualitative analysis, focusing on their contributions to mainstreaming SSE as a viable alternative to traditional profit-driven business models. Essentially, this paper underscores SSE’s capacity to promote social justice, resilience, and sustainability by highlighting best practices that can inform national development plans and strategies to ensure fair and equitable economic growth for all.

Strengthening district-level administration through multi-stakeholders SDG initiative: From vision & mission to implementation, the APPGM-SDG experience.

Paniirselvam Jayaraman — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Leaving no one behind is the key slogan of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the formation of APPGM-SDG, the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia for Sustainable Development Goals, has laid the foundation for implementing sustainable solutions towards ground needs. APPGM-SDG adopted a grounded research methodology, and through its issue-mapping process in 115 parliamentary constituencies from 2020 to 2024, it identified a strong need to strengthen local administration and adopt sustainable solutions involving multiple stakeholders. This paper focuses on the journey toward finding effective approaches for local administration and the implementation of the initiative in 2024. The district-level administrative offices, namely
district offices and local governments, are the focal points in delivering sustainable solutions on the ground. These offices have been prominent since the 1950s, when Tun Abdul Razak, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural Development, actively sought to strengthen district-level administration. He introduced the concept of the “operation room” to coordinate and deliver government development plans and launched the Red Book Program. The government’s continued commitment to this purpose is reflected in the 2021 Voluntary National Review (VNR) and its implementation in 2024. Malaysia recommended a multi-stakeholder engagement at the district administration level to resolve issues, and this 2021 VNR recommendation was implemented in 2024 by the government
through a joint policy solutions initiative between APPGM-SDG and Yayasan Hasanah. This paper includes case studies from APPGM-SDG grounded research methodology, which impactfully contributed to the formation of the policy solutions initiative, and covers details related to implementation and lessons learnt. The analysis combines APPGM-SDG grounded research, case studies, and secondary data to assess the impact of this multi-stakeholder initiative at the district-level.

The Economic and Regulatory Landscape of Nuclear Power: Implications for Malaysia

Chean Chung Lee, Leong Yuen Yoong — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

As Malaysia reconsiders integrating nuclear power into its energy mix, this paper advances the national discourse by analysing the critical economic and regulatory dimensions of its development. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review and field interviews, the study first delineates the prevailing legal, policy, and administrative environment for energy projects. Within this context, it identifies specific market and operational challenges and risks pertinent to nuclear power and proposes eight mitigation strategies. These strategies are strategically linked with the Four Symbols (四象) of Chinese cosmology, presenting a comprehensive, interdependent, and balanced policy framework. The paper further examines the establishment of a robust and efficient regulatory framework for nuclear power, guided by international best practices. Based on this analysis, the study offers recommendations for Malaysia, encompassing areas such as market and operational risks, regulatory frameworks, public engagement and communication, geopolitical realities and strategic partnerships, crucial for navigating nuclear power integration amidst a dynamic energy transition.