KUCHING: State Legislative Assemblies (DUN) in the country are free to decide if they should adopt the proposed Code of Ethics for MPs.
Senate president Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said when the Code of Ethics is eventually implemented in parliament, it will only involve the MPs.
“So if the DUNs want to follow the implementation of the code, they are allowed to do so.
“This is also the same with the Anti-Party Hopping Bill that was tabled and passed … there are still many states that have not adopted the law,” he said during a press conference at TVS studio here on Saturday.
He also said that the federal constitution recognises the existence of state constitutions.
“Therefore, we cannot force them although we have the power. We want to respect the independence and jurisdictional rights of the state legislature itself,” he added.
Earlier, Wan Junaidi said before producing the code of ethics, a meeting will be conducted between the Attorney General’s Chambers and Select Committee.
“The Select Committee will study it in detail and probably we will also invite experts in this field to give their inputs.
“This is not to benefit me but for the benefit of all. The process will take some time because the matter needs to be studied,” he pointed out.
The introduction of a Code of Ethics is one of his aims to reform parliament, the others being reintroducing the Parliamentary Services Act, amending the Houses of Parliament (Privilege and Powers) Act 1952 or introducing new Privileges and Powers Act as well as to amend the Standing Orders and Rules of Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara to strengthen the role of committees in Parliament in an effort to transform the institution.
