KUALA LUMPUR – Parliament will allocate only a day each to focus on five core issues that will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat when it convenes later this month, most of which would have typically required multiple days of debates and discussions.
This is especially concerning as the matters of concern involve the lives and livelihood of Malaysians, and which would see a large number of MPs expressing interest in taking part in the debates.
According to a leaked summary of the order of business sighted by The Vibes, the special five-day sitting will centre on the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as its economic impact and the emergency.
It is still unclear if MPs will be allowed to raise questions or given opportunity to debate on the issues, but the limited time will mean that even if permitted, discussions will be restricted.
Unless directed otherwise by the House, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to take the lead in the sitting on June 26, when he will be tabling the government’s National Recovery Plan.
His newly-minted deputy Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, meanwhile, will oversee the tabling and presenting of the emergency proclamation – which has been in force since January – on the final day on August 2.
The Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba-led Health Ministry will be tabling the government’s actions in combating Covid-19 on the second day of the sitting (July 27), while Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has been allocated July 28 to explain the government’s national vaccination drive.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz will be leading the tabling of the current administration’s economic stimulus packages on July 29.
A highly-placed source confirmed to The Vibes that Parliament has received a notice of the order of business from the government following the cabinet meeting yesterday.
He said this will be conveyed to every MP.
“Whether the order is confirmed or not, we will have to wait until an official notice is issued (to the MPs). The current one is not from Parliament, but the cabinet.
“However, Parliament will most likely stick to the order of business. It remains as of today.”
In a separate statement today, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun said the Secretary of the House, Dr Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin, will be issuing official notices to all MPs today to notify on the July 26 special sitting.
The Prime Minister’s Office had on July 5 announced that Dewan Rakyat will reconvene for five days from July 26 to 29 and on August 2, while Dewan Negara will sit for three days from August 3 to 5.
“The sitting is to provide an explanation to all MPs on the National Recovery Plan, and to amend all the relevant legislation and regulations to allow Parliament to be held in a hybrid manner,” said PMO.
The reconvening comes following months of pressure from lawmakers, as well as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, with efforts by the government to combat the pandemic described as a resounding failure to date.
Following the PMO’s announcement, several MPs have expressed unease over the prospect of seeing just a “briefing session”, raising concern that there would be no space for debates and questions.
On Tuesday, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged for MPs to be allowed to debate on all matters concerning the emergency, pandemic, vaccination, expenditure, and the National Recovery Plan.
In a letter submitted to the Dewan Rakyat secretary, Anwar said the House should also honour the views of the Agong and Malay rulers in their statement on June 16 pointing to allowing debates to go on.
According to a tweet by Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, who posted the order of business from the Parliament secretariat, the five-day Dewan Rakyat sittings will see ministers present their briefings on respective motions. – The Vibes, July 15, 2021
Confirm ON pic.twitter.com/QPE1k37P8y
— Fuziah Salleh (@FuziahSallehMP) July 15, 2021
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