Harapan manifesto dramatically reduces PM's power

If Pakatan Harapan captures Putrajaya, it will significantly reduce the power of the prime minister.

This is according to the opposition coalition's manifesto released in Shah Alam tonight.

The document detailed several measures that would rein in the prime minister's powers and Parliament playing a key role in keeping him or her in check.

Apart from the already well publicised two-term limit imposed on the prime minister, Harapan will block the prime minister from holding any other portfolios.

It will also halve the Prime Minister Department's allocation from RM17 billion to RM8 billion and slash the 10 ministers in the department to three.

Several agencies within the Prime Minister's Department will also be moved and placed under the relevant ministries.

MACC to be upgraded

All appointments to the MACC, Human Rights Commission, Election Commission and Judicial Appointments Committee, which are currently done at the prime minister's discretion, will need to receive approval from Parliament.

The Election Commission will also be placed directly under Parliament while the MACC will be upgraded to a full-pledge commission recognised by the Federal Constitution.

Likewise, the MACC will also be accountable to Parliament.

Accompanying the check on the prime minister's powers are also institutional and political reforms.

The public prosecutor office will be separated from the attorney-general's chambers.

Under the new arrangement, the attorney-general will be an MP and a minister while the public prosecutor will be an independent.

Opposition to be empowered

Parliament will also be granted autonomy while the Opposition Minister will have similar privileges to a minister.

Select committees within parliament can also summon ministers and top civil servants for questioning.

Furthermore, the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee will be led by an Opposition MP.

Measures will also be introduced to check the power of the Dewan Rakyat speaker and Dewan Negara president.

MPs and senators will be able to refer to a complaints committee if they feel decisions by the speaker or president are unfair.

A report will also be produced annually of the positions occupied by MPs on the board of government-linked companies and other firms and the total allowance they are receiving. -Mkini