Azalina chairs Institutional Reform Special Taskforce: Fadillah Yusof

KUALA LUMPUR - A Institutional Reform Special Taskforce was established last Jan to research, study, and propose reforms, including the implementation mechanism for the reforms, for the consideration of the Cabinet.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the special team was chaired by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

"The Institutional Reform Workshop was held on Jan 17, 2023 involving government agencies and civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that focus on legislative and national institutional reforms.

"The series of engagements with interested ministries, departments, or agencies will finalise the proposed institutional reforms that are to be implemented before being presented to the Cabinet," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this in response to Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah's (PN-Indera Mahkota) question, in which he asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to provide details on the country's system and institutions, including Parliament reform.

Fadillah added that the Unity Government led by Anwar takes the issue of institutional reform seriously and will take thorough action to implement the agenda.

In fact, he said, the government will ensure any reforms implemented take into account the views of stakeholders.

Fadillah, at the same time, also explained that the government also intends to establish a system and election management based on democratic principles that are accepted by all parties.

"Thus, the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) was established in 2018 to examine proposals for improving the election system and management in Malaysia with all stakeholders.

"Furthermore, a Special Cabinet Committee was also formed in 2022 to examine the ERC's recommendations for consideration by the Cabinet in the near future," he said.

Last Dec, Azalina informed the government that it intends to establish a Special Team on Institutional Reform, which will include relevant stakeholders in the near future.

She said the formation of the team was aimed at carrying out a study and preparing a list of proposals involving institutional reform to be presented to the Cabinet.