logo
Youth Parliament: Engagement with universities to gather input for new format

Youth Parliament: Engagement with universities to gather input for new format

The Sun22-04-2025

KUCHING: The Malaysian Parliament will begin a nationwide engagement tour with public universities and private higher learning institutions (IPTS) to gather input on the implementation of a new format for the Youth Parliament.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the engagement sessions will also explore the proposed election process for Youth Parliament representatives, with student voices playing a key role in shaping the direction of the initiative.
'For now, the new Youth Parliament format has not been finalised. We are still working on it.
'We will be visiting (public and private) universities to seek their views, such as whether each university should form its own political party, or whether several universities can collaborate to form one,' he told reporters after attending a lecture titled Dari Sarawak ke ASEAN: Mengangkat Aspirasi Belia dalam Arena Serantau at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) here today.
Johari said the final framework for the new format is expected to be concluded by September or October this year.
He added that the election of Youth Parliament representatives is expected to be held in November, while the first meeting of the Youth Parliament, in January or February next year.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Senators In Malaysia: Understanding The Role Of Dewan Negara In Parliament
Senators In Malaysia: Understanding The Role Of Dewan Negara In Parliament

Rakyat Post

timean hour ago

  • Rakyat Post

Senators In Malaysia: Understanding The Role Of Dewan Negara In Parliament

Subscribe to our FREE When most people think about politics in Malaysia, they usually picture Members of Parliament (MPs) debating in the Dewan Rakyat or the Prime Minister addressing the nation. However, there is another important group of lawmakers who quietly help shape the country's laws and policies: the senators in the Dewan Negara, Malaysia's upper house of Parliament. Malaysia has a two-chamber parliamentary system, made up of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) and the Dewan Negara (Senate). While the Dewan Rakyat is made up of MPs who are elected by the public during general elections, the Dewan Negara consists of senators who are either appointed or selected through a different process. The role of these senators is not as widely known, but they play a key part in how laws are made and reviewed in the country. How are senators appointed? Image: There are a total of 70 senators in Malaysia. Of these, 26 are chosen by the state legislative assemblies – two from each of the 13 states. The remaining 44 are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the advice of the Prime Minister. Four of these represent the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan, while the others are selected from various fields such as education, business, public service, or civil society. This combination is meant to ensure that different sectors and regions of the country are represented in the lawmaking process. What is required to be a senator? And how long can you be one? To become a senator, a person must be a Malaysian citizen and at least 30 years old. They must be of good character, not bankrupt, and not convicted of serious criminal offences. Most importantly, they should have something valuable to contribute – whether it's experience in public service, professional knowledge, or community leadership. Senators serve a term of three years and may be reappointed once, allowing for a maximum of six years in total. Unlike Members of Parliament, who have to face elections and campaign for public support, senators are not elected by the general public. This gives them a degree of independence from political pressures, allowing them to focus more on reviewing and debating legislation thoroughly. The role and responsibilities of a senator Image: So, what exactly do senators do? Their main job is to review laws passed by the Dewan Rakyat. When a new bill is approved by the lower house, it doesn't go straight to becoming law. It must first pass through the Dewan Negara, where senators examine it in detail. They can debate the bill, suggest changes, and ask for clarifications. While they cannot block a law permanently, they can delay its passage and raise important concerns. This gives time for reflection and can help prevent poorly written or rushed laws from going through unchecked. Senators can also raise issues that matter to their states or communities, especially topics that might not get enough attention in the Dewan Rakyat. Because many appointed senators come from professional or civil society backgrounds, they often bring specialized knowledge or speak up for underrepresented groups. That said, the Dewan Negara does have its limitations. It cannot introduce money bills like the national budget, and if it rejects a bill, the Dewan Rakyat can still pass it again after a short waiting period. In other words, the Senate acts as a second opinion – not a final verdict – on proposed laws. Providing balance and clarity behind the scenes Dewan Negara chamber. Image: Wee Hong Even though senators don't have the spotlight like MPs often do, their work behind the scenes helps ensure that Malaysia's laws are balanced, carefully considered, and represent the interests of a wide range of people. They provide a layer of expertise and review that supports the democratic process, making sure that legislation goes through more than just a single round of debate. In short, a Malaysian senator is a key part of the country's lawmaking system. Whether appointed or selected by state assemblies, senators serve as guardians of thoughtful legislation. They bring diverse voices to the table and play a quiet but important role in making sure the laws that affect all Malaysians are fair, sensible, and inclusive. A few notable senators of Malaysia Dato' Abdul Rahman Yassin was the first Dewan Negara President from 1959 to 1968. His son, Tun Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman, became the second Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia under former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. Datuk Mutang Tagal, who recently passed away in May 2024, was the 20th president of the Dewan Negara and the first Orang Ulu (ethnic people in northeastern Sarawak) to serve as a senate president. Mutang Tagal's appointment as senator was a milestone for indigenous representation at the national level. Image: Instagram | @datukmutangtagal Datuk Dr Ras Adiba Radzi is a former senator who represents persons with disabilities. Appointed in May 2020, she uses a wheelchair and champions the rights of disabled Malaysians, advocating for inclusive policy and better accessibility nationwide. Sources: Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

Govt targets RM5bil from SST revision
Govt targets RM5bil from SST revision

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Govt targets RM5bil from SST revision

Minister of Finance II Datuk Amir Hamzah Azizan PUTRAJAYA: The government expects to raise RM5bil from the revision of the sales tax and expansion of the service tax (collectively SST) to other services effective July. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, said the revision of the SST is driven by the need to improve the fiscal space of the federal government to improve the delivery of service to the public and lower the cost of living besides increasing the amount of cash assistance to the people. 'To ensure that the majority of the people are not affected by the SST revision, the Madani government is taking a targeted approach to ensure that basic goods and services are not taxed. 'In addition, various facilities are also provided to reduce the impact on micro, small and medium enterprises,' he told a media briefing here yesterday. Hence, Putrajaya has maintained zero sales tax on essential goods like rice, chicken meat, and vegetables but introduced a 5% tax on goods such as king crab, salmon, truffle and essential oil as well as raise the sales tax to 10% for products such as racing bicycles, antique hand paintings and tungsten scrap residues from 5%. It has broadened the tax base and imposed a 8% tax on services such as rental and leasing, financial and beauty services, and a 6% tax on construction, healthcare and education services. The Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM) said the move to revise the SST was timely and a strategic use of indirect taxation to enhance government revenue without resorting to further direct taxes or reintroducing the goods and services tax at this juncture. 'As Malaysia's service-based economy continues to grow, CTIM recognises the government's effort to broaden the tax base by incorporating more sectors into the SST regime. 'This aligns with global trends and reflects a pragmatic approach to fiscal sustainability,' it noted in a statement. CTIM added to ensure a smooth transition, it urged the government to establish dedicated support channels – such as hotlines, emails, or live chats – manned by knowledgeable personnel to provide timely responses and minimise compliance risks. The collection of the SST from registered businesses will begin next month and for companies that now come under the tax space collection, it is expected to begin in September after such businesses have registered with the Customs department. This extension of the SST is accompanied by selected exemptions to avoid double taxation as well as ensure that certain essential services for Malaysian citizens are not taxed, Amir Hamzah added. Details are available on the Royal Malaysian Custom's department's website. Putrajaya collected about RM45bil in SST in 2024. According to the Finance Ministry's official first quarter 2025 Economic Report, the federal government's revenue for the quarter amounted to RM72.1bil, driven in part by a surge in SST receipts which totalled RM11.1bil. The reimplementation of SST in September 2018 saw the government collect RM5.4bil for the period. Annual SST collection in 2019 amounted to RM27.6bil, RM25.2bil in 2020, RM25.5bil in 2021, RM31.3bil in 2022 and RM35.4bil in 2023.

Wong Chen must stick around and deliver
Wong Chen must stick around and deliver

Free Malaysia Today

time5 hours ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Wong Chen must stick around and deliver

From Nurul Anna Mausar Subang Jaya MP Wong Chen announced yesterday that he will be going to France for a break. But it's more than a family holiday as he said he is contemplating his future in politics and expressed a deep concern over the slow pace of reforms. Perhaps he should consider some of the lessons of the French Revolution during which the government collapsed into terror and anarchy when rival factions turned on each other. Of course, Malaysia's scenario is not remotely comparable to that period of history, when the French Revolution devoured its children. Nonetheless, we saw the chaos that followed the Sheraton Move of 2020, which was partially rooted in factional strife within Wong's own party. I would urge Wong to take the time to recharge his battery and come back stronger. Yes, reforms have been taking their time but a few have been accomplished, many others are in the pipeline, and more can be done further down the road. Don't give up now, when so much hangs in the balance. Reforms have been achieved through the abolition of the mandatory death penalty, the passage of the Parliamentary Services Bill 2025, the Malaysian Media Council Bill 2024, and amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010. Other reforms have been promised in the short term, such as amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, a review of the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009, proposed term limits for the prime minister, and the enactment of laws on urban renewal and freedom of information. Still more are under review such as separating the powers of the attorney-general and public prosecutor. Maybe even the full abolition of the death penalty. We have to acknowledge some political realities: the Madani government is an unwieldy multi-party coalition with differing degrees of commitment to reform. That's not an excuse. Just reality. For example, local council elections might be hard to push through as Pakatan Harapan has a very strong presence in Malaysia's urban centres but many other parties – both within and outside of the coalition – have a vested interest in preventing the return of such polls. One thing I am sure of: the likes of Wong must not surrender now. Instead, they must redouble their efforts. Nurul Anna Mausar is a law student and an FMT reader. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store