By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMUR, Malaysia--Parliamentary and legal transformation play significant roles towards enhancing governance and economic prosperity, which would consequently improve the people’s lives and overall happiness level.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Dato Sri Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the role of good governance and effective institutional mechanisms is essential to provide check and balance in the system, which will then allow the advancement of democracy.

"I would like to draw your attention to the role of good governance and effective institutional mechanisms in ensuring economic prosperity for Malaysia.

The rule of law is a critical factor for the advancement of democracy. By strengthening the rule of law, we protect the rights of all people, advance inclusiveness, and limit the arbitrary exercise of power.

"The rule of law also includes democratic reforms and that is exactly what the government of the day is doing,” he said in a Special Ministerial Address for the Asia Economic and Entrepreneurship Summit, held virtually today.

Dr. Wan Junaidi said the rakyat’s wellbeing and restoring the country back to normalcy is the government’s main priority and hope everyone, from all quarters, would be supportive in this and stop political bickering and backbiting.

In the pursuit to restore political stability, he said the government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the opposition on 13 September 2021, a historical event aimed at bringing lawmakers together to discuss issues that are of importance to the people, especially in tackling the effects of COVID-19.

"This also paves the way for bi-partisan involvement where politicians put their differences aside to discuss, give views and suggestions for the benefit of the people and country.

"I must say that this step is one of a kind in the history of Malaysia and it is done solely to benefit the rakyat who have been badly affected by the effects of the pandemic both economically and socially," he said.

The ministry, as part of its 100-day key performance index (KPI), is focusing on transformation initiatives in the government, Parliament and examining the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) in an effort to reinstate the rights of the people in Sabah and Sarawak.

The four main areas of focus to be undertaken by the ministry are to complete the process to table a Bill of limitation on the Prime Minister's tenure to 10 years; to complete the process to table a Bill to allow the appointment of a third deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker; and to complete the process to table some of the critical Bills to look into the rights of people in Sabah and Sarawak under MA63.

Dr. Wan Junaidi said transformation in the government sector embodies noble values and solidarity across religious, race and cultural backgrounds in the context of Keluarga Malaysia.

He said Malaysia’s immediate priority is to sustain the management of the ongoing pandemic and its effects on individuals, households, and businesses.

Protecting the lives and health of citizens is vital to ensure a safe resumption of economic activities and the prevention of a protracted economic downturn.

“The current government will continue to deliver more for the people and my role as the Minister in charge of the portfolio of Parliament and Law, is to ensure that there is political stability through good governance and parliamentary democracy.

"This will ensure that the government continues to make sound policies that would serve the people and provide them economic and social benefits with minimum obstacles. With this I call upon all of you here today to support and work with the government towards a better tomorrow," he added.