How many Bills have been referred to a select committee since independence?

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Five Bills Have Historically Been Referred to a Select Committee Since Independence

Since Malaysia's independence, a total of five Bills have been formally referred to a Select Committee for further deliberation. This practice, while rare historically, has seen a slight increase in recent years. The legal scholars Wan Arfah Hamzah and Ramly Bulan noted in their 2003 book that only five Bills had been committed to Select Committees in the 60 years prior.
Historical Instances of Bills Referred to Select Committees

The practice of referring Bills to a Select Committee dates back to the early years of Malaysia's independence. Among the earliest recorded instances were the Minor Offences (Amendment) Bill in 1961 and the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Bill in 1974. Later, the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) (Amendment) Bill was also referred to a Select Committee in 1984.
Recent Trends in Referring Bills to Select Committees

More recently, the trend has shown a willingness to utilize the Select Committee process. The Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill in 2019 is cited as potentially being the sixth Bill referred to a Select Committee since independence. This indicates a shift towards broader consultation on significant legislative matters.
The Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022 and Others

In 2022, the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill, also known as the Generational End Game (GEG) Bill, was committed to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC). This followed a precedent set by previous administrations that recognised the importance of broad consensus on key legislation.
Multiple Bills Referred to PSSC in Recent Years

The current parliamentary term has seen a notable increase in the use of the PSSC. For example, the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026, the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill 2026, the Freedom of Information Bill 2026, and the Prison (Amendment) Bill 2026 have all been committed to the PSSC. This suggests a growing emphasis on committee review for complex or sensitive legislation.

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How many Bills have been referred to a select committee since independence?

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