Deputy minister says phased consultations with experts and civil society will improve quality and transparency before laws are tabled.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is prioritising improvements to the drafting of Bills to ensure greater quality, transparency and inclusiveness before they are tabled in Parliament.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department M. Kulasegaran said the Legal Affairs Division consistently conducts phased engagement sessions. These involve ministries, implementing agencies, subject matter experts and civil society organisations.
He said this approach has been applied in drafting key legislation like the Ombudsman Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill. It was also used for laws that have been passed, including the Parliamentary Services Act 2025 and the Anti-Bullying Act 2026.
“These engagement sessions aim to obtain grassroots views and input on proposed policies to ensure all voices are taken into account,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
Kulasegaran was responding to a question on steps taken to ensure laws are carefully drafted to a high standard. He emphasised this is particularly important for legislation affecting public rights and the economy.
On a proposal to conduct online public polls before amending laws, he confirmed the division has implemented this method. The goal is to gather broader public feedback on legislative changes.
Among the laws that underwent such public surveys were the abolition of the mandatory death penalty. Amendments related to party-hopping provisions and constitutional amendments to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure were also subject to public consultation.
