Press Releases

The CSO Platform for Reform commends the Unity Government's unwavering commitment to institutional reforms. The Law Minister, YB Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, has demonstrated remarkable leadership by convening consultations with the CSOs and stakeholders.

This is a good restart to the reforms work that started in 2018, where the members of the CSO Platform for Reform and other members of the civil society made substantial contributions to the reform agenda by submitting over 50 proposals to the Institutional Reform Committee (IRC). These proposals encompassed a wide range of reforms in policies, laws, parliament, governance, appointments, and institutions. During a recent meeting with the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Dato Johari, the CSO Platform for Reform was pleased to receive his support in principle of our recommendations for reform.

These include the use of Public Service Commissions to decentralise power and enhance accountability through the establishment of inclusive and cross party Parliamentary Special Select Committee and the Parliament Service Act. The Speaker also emphasised the importance of focused meetings between the CSO Platform for Reform and cross-party MPs to promote parliamentary engagement with the public. The previous governments' lack of significant progress in implementing these reforms has severely impacted the governance, transparency, and accountability of the government.

The CSO Platform for Reform calls on the Unity Government to take immediate action and make the IRC report public. The report serves as the foundation for a better government and must be made available to the public without delay.With the accessibility to the IRC report, the public will be able to make informed decisions in pushing for reforms. We implore the government to act expeditiously on our recommendations and to implement the reforms without any further delay.

The people of Malaysia deserve a transparent, accountable, and responsive government, and the CSO Platform for Reform will continue to advocate for these reforms until they are fully realised.

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