Standing Committees for A New Malaysia

By Chang Yi Ning (P.104 Subang Intern, 2018) Executive Summary:

1. This paper is divided into three parts: a) introduction; b) case studies; c) recommendations.
   

2. This paper focuses on the formation of standing select committees for a new Malaysia. After decades of misrule, the Malaysian Parliament’s law-making role has been completely eroded by the executive. Forming standing select committees will go some way to rebuild and strengthen democracy for the new Malaysia.
   

3. In the following pages, the Norwegian, British and Malaysian systems are further elaborated upon. The paper examines their organisation and scope, sources of power, composition, proceedings, schedule, and budget, before finally making recommendations for Malaysia.
   

4. This paper makes the following recommendations: 4.1 Nine new standing committees to supplement the current five committees; 4.2 special select committees to be established on an ad-hoc basis; 4.3 with an annual budget of RM 11,400,000 to operate all 14 standing committees and ad-hoc special select committees.
   

5. In sum, these are the budgetary details proposed:
   

1.	Public Accounts Committee and Constitutional Affairs	RM 1,500,000
2.	Standing Orders Committee	RM 100,000
3.	House Committee	RM 100,000
4.	Committee of Privileges	RM 100,000
5.	Selection Committee	RM 100,000
6.	Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs	RM 1,000,000
7.	Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Defence and Foreign Affairs	RM 1,000,000
8.	Standing Committee on Education and Entrepreneurship	RM 1,000,000
9.	Standing Committee on Health, Family and Well-being	RM 1,000,000
10.	Standing Committee on Business, Trade and Industry	RM 1,000,000
11.	Standing Committee on Transport, Works and Communication	RM 1,000,000
12.	Standing Committee on Resources, Energy, Environment, Science and Technology	RM 1,000,000
13.	Standing Committee on Human Resources and Social Affairs	RM 1,000,000
14.	Standing Committee on Housing, Tourism and Territories	RM 1,000,000
15.	Special select committees	RM 500,000
	Total:	RM 11,400,00

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