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| Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun. |
Nine parliamentary select committees restructured, says Speaker Azhar
BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 5): The nine existing parliamentary special select committees have been restructured involving the composition of lawmakers from both the opposition and government, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.
Azhar said the restructuring exercise is a follow-up to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Transformation and Political Stability between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan on Sept 13.
“To fulfil one of the things agreed upon, namely the balance of membership of the select committees, membership has been increased from seven members to nine, namely five government members of Parliament (MPs) and four opposition MPs in each select committee.
“The chairmen of the select committees are also divided between the government and the opposition in a ratio of 5:4,” he said in a statement on Friday.
Azhar said from the government are Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Azizah Mohd Dun as the chairman of the Special Select Committee on Fundamental Liberty and Constitutional Rights, while Rompin MP Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin is the chairman of the Special Select Committee on Finance and Economy.
“Chairman of the Special Select Committee on Agencies under the Prime Minister's Department is Kuala Krai MP Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman, while chairman of the Special Select Committee on Infrastructure Development is Tanjong Manis MP Yusuf Abd Wahab.
“Chairman for Special Select Committee on Women’s and Children’s Affairs and Social Development is Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said,” he said.
Meanwhile, from the opposition, he said Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul is the chairman of the Special Select Committee on Security, while Kulim and Bandar Bharu MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is the chairman of the Special Select Committee on Agriculture and Domestic Trade.
“Simpang Renggam MP Dr Maszlee Malik is the chairman of the Special Select Committee on Education, while Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen is the chairman of the Special Select Committee on Health, Science and Innovation.
In the meantime, Azhar said that another select committee will be established, namely the Special Select Committee on International Affairs, which is currently in the process of selecting its members, thus bringing the total number of select committees to 10.
“Hopefully, with the new structure, these committees will be able to carry out the responsibilities entrusted effectively, towards strengthening the functions of the country’s legal institutions further, that are more transparent and credible, in line with the aspiration to strengthen the reform of the Malaysian Parliament,” he said.
