Kuala lumpur: The Private Agencies (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at refining the issuance and renewal processes for private agency licenses, was introduced for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who presented the bill, mentioned that it would be scheduled for a second reading during the same session.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the proposed amendments to the Private Agencies Act 1971 (Act 27) include the introduction of a new subsection (2A), which stipulates that a license issued under the act will be valid until December 31 of either the same or the following calendar year. Additionally, the bill proposes the removal of Section 5 of Act 27. This section currently mandates the annual publication of a list of licensed private agencies in the gazette each March, allowing the public to verify the status of these agencies.

The Home Ministry has modernized its approach to governing private agencies by adopting an internal system that offers public access to check the status of any private agency online at any time. Furthermore, Clause 4 of the bill seeks to amend section 9 of Act 27, empowering the Inspector General of Police to issue approval letters for licensed private agencies seeking to employ individuals.

In related developments, Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) motioned under Standing Order 18(1) for the Dewan Rakyat to discuss the case of Malaysian citizen Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, who faces the death penalty in Singapore for drug trafficking. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul confirmed that the motion would be addressed in the Special Chamber later in the afternoon.