KUALA LUMPUR, February 21 – The first reading of the Parliamentary Services Bill (RUU) is expected to be tabled next week as a measure to ensure the independence of Parliament's institutions.

The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the bill was in line with the government's efforts to strengthen the principle of separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial bodies.

"Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, there is a need to ensure that the separation of powers actually takes place. This means that the Parliament should have its own legislation, the executive under the PM, and the judiciary led by the Chief Justice."

"The Prime Minister wants to restore the freedom of these three entities. God willing, we expect all Members of Parliament to agree to proceed with this bill to ensure the separation of powers can be realized," he said.

Johari said this to reporters after the Dialogue Session with the Trainees of the National Service Training Program 3.0 Series 1, here, today.

Previously, civil society groups proposed that the Parliamentary Services Bill give full autonomy to the Parliament institutions, including in administrative and financial aspects.

The proposal is in line with the efforts of the MADANI Government in empowering Parliament as an independent and effective body of checks and balances.