KUALA LUMPUR – The 15th Parliament is set to see the passing of a mini-budget when it convenes for a two-day sitting this month, to ensure civil servants receive their salaries in January next year, said outgoing Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun.
Speaking to The Vibes, Azhar confirmed that come rain or shine, this budget must be approved during the sitting scheduled for December 19 and 20, the first for the new Parliament’s term.
“It (passing the mini-budget for civil servants’ salaries) must happen. If it doesn't, how are they going to get paid?” he said.
The matter is slated under the “bills and other government business” item in the sitting’s agenda that was released to MPs yesterday by the Dewan Rakyat secretary.
“Since the item is last on the agenda, passing the budget will probably only happen on the second day of the sitting (December 20),” Azhar added.
“The swearing in of MPs and the motion of confidence (for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) will take some time and will probably occupy the entire first day (of the sitting).”
The order paper for the coming sitting, with a more detailed itinerary, should be sent out to elected lawmakers before December 19, he said.
In a notice on the sitting sent out to MPs yesterday, Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin said that the lower house’s first order of business will be to elect its speaker.
This will be followed by the swearing-in of MPs, voting for the new deputy speakers and the motion directing the inspector-general of police to provide free passage to MPs.
A motion of confidence for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will take place after all these, followed by bills and other government business.
On November 26, the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services called on the new government under Anwar to maintain all initiatives for civil servants announced by the previous government.
Its president Datuk Adnan Mat said it would be “inappropriate” for the initiatives tabled in Budget 2023 to be withdrawn because of a change of government.
The initiatives announced for civil servants by the previous government include a special RM100 addition to the annual salary increment from next January, RM700 special financial assistance for 2023 in January, RM350 financial assistance for retirees, and RM600 special Aidilfitri assistance for March next year.
In 2018, before the 14th general election, the Barisan Nasional government announced several goodies for all civil servants, including a salary increase equivalent to a year’s annual salary increase.
The pledges, however, were not implemented following the change of the federal government when Pakatan Harapan secured a win at the national polls.
Meanwhile, Azhar also told The Star that there will be no speaker when the Dewan Rakyat convenes at 10am on December 19 as he will have vacated his position at midnight on December 18.
With proceedings being conducted by the secretary of the House, MPs will then put forth their candidates for the speaker post.
“If there is only one name proposed, the secretary will proclaim the speaker, who will then take his oath. However, an election must be held if more than one candidate is proposed by the respective parties,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that the names of the candidates must be submitted to the House by this coming Monday (December 5), in line with the 14-day notice requirement. – The Vibes, December 2, 2022
