Selangor to remove executive powers over legislature

ARCHIVES 2009

By admin-s On Aug 12, 2009

(The Malaysian Insider) The Selangor government is moving towards a clear separation of powers between the state government and the legislature, to avoid what Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have claimed was executive interference during the Perak power tussle.

Currently, Speaker Teng Chang Khim has limited autonomy over the legislative assembly which is located within the state secretariat and his staff are employees of the state government.

However, this is set to change if the Selangor Legislative Assembly Service Commission Enactment (Selesa) 2009 is passed.

The enactment will put Selangor at par with other developed Commonwealth countries, where there is a clear distinction between the executive – which is the state government, the legislature and judiciary.

Under the Doctrine of Separations of Powers, each of these three organs of state are equal and functions as a check and balance to prevent abuse.

“We hope the new enactment will clearly distinguish the separate roles and functions of the state government and the legislature.” said Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim today while opening a seminar on Selesa here.

A panel of constitutional law experts also shared their views on the draft law with state lawmakers.

The panel included Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) prominent lawyer Tommy Thomas, and Prof Dr Aziz Bari from the International Islamic University Malaysia.