[UPDATED] ‘Too early’: Art Harun tosses Anwar’s motion for Parliament meet

KUALA LUMPUR – “It’s too early,” said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun in rejecting the motion that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attempted to table for next week’s sitting.

In a letter to the Port Dickson MP, Azhar said the notice for the special parliamentary meeting was issued on July 15, while Anwar’s parliamentary motion was proposed on July 12.

This was not the only reason Azhar cited in the letter, as reported by Malaysiakini, as Anwar had multiple topics in a single motion that violated Standing Order 33(1) and 46(3)

“I am also of the opinion that the motion violates Article 150(3) of the federal constitution,” adding that Standing Order 11(3) states that the order of business for special Dewan Rakyat sittings is the sole prerogative of the prime minister.

Anwar had proposed that lawmakers be allowed to debate, not just on the emergency and its ordinances, but on matters linked to the pandemic, vaccination, expenditure and the National Recovery Plan. He also cited Standing Orders 26(1) and 27(3).

While Anwar’s proposed parliamentary motions were in line with a decree from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on June 16. The king had stated that a parliamentary sitting should be held soon, to allow Dewan Rakyat members to “debate” emergency ordinances and the National Recovery Plan.

This was then followed by a statement from the Conference of Rulers that urged for Parliament to reconvene as well, adding that legislative procedures from other countries could be followed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at these meets.

However, on June 29, following a meeting with Azhar and Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim, a similar message urging Parliament to reconvene was made in a press statement by Istana Negara, and added that the procedures set by the government and legislative House must be followed.

The statement added that this is to allow the emergency declaration and ordinances to be “tabled” as provided for under Article 150(3) of the federal constitution.

Yesterday, The Vibes reported that the special parliamentary sittings on July 26 will see no debates, only minister briefings, as seen after the schedule was made available on the legislative House’s website.

Among ministers who will be briefing MPs in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday include Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin; Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The parliamentary schedule for the ministers’ explanations was tagged by an asterisk stating that the session will be followed by questions from other MPs, and will end with the relevant cabinet members providing answers.

Additionally, the schedule also provided for the tabling of emergency ordinances on July 26 as well.

The Dewan Rakyat will sit for a special parliamentary meeting from July 26 to July 29 and August 2.

The Dewan Negara, meanwhile, will sit for three days from August 3 to 5. – The Vibes, July 24, 2021