KUALA LUMPUR: Frustration regarding Parliament as an institution was the main reason Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia wanted to resign the Dewan Rakyat Speaker post, and not because of old furniture in his office as rumoured.
"My reasons stemmed from principles of strengthening Parliament as an institution, and not minor issues like furniture in the Speaker's office," said Pandikar at a press conference at his official residence here Tuesday.
Pandikar said that in a discussion with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak at his offices at Parliament in March, he had put forward several requests to improve Parliament.
Pandikar revealed that during the meeting, he asked that the position of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Parliament affairs be scrapped.
He said he did this "to remove the perception that Parliament and the Speaker work on the orders of the executive, contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers."
Pandikar said he had also asked Najib for the creation of "Minister time" to allow MPs to question Ministers without notice and for the establishment of five select committees to smooth the debating of new bills.
"What is most important is that the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 is updated and brought back into force. It was repealed in 1992 when Mahathir was prime minister," said Pandikar.
He added that his request for a new Parliamentary Chief Secretary was granted immediately by Najib.
