KUALA LUMPUR – The ongoing Dewan Rakyat sitting, which is supposed to end on Thursday, March 30, has been extended by two days.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Johari Abdul said the decision was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as the leader of the House, in line with Standing Order 11(2).
The provision grants the leader or deputy leader of the House the power to amend the dates of meetings in a particular session that have been fixed.
“This (extension) is to allow several bills and government matters to be tabled and decided in the Dewan Rakyat,” he said at the start of today’s sitting.
“A written notice will be issued to all MPs after this.”
The two additional days have been fixed for April 3 (Monday) and 4 (Tuesday).
Based on the current parliamentary order of business, the ongoing sitting, which started with the royal address on February 23, was scheduled to end on March 30.
Currently, MPs are debating Budget 2023 at the policy stage, with ministers set to deliver their winding up speeches on March 8 and 9, following which, a vote will be held to pass the supply bill.
If passed, the bill will then enter the committee stage, where it will be debated until March 28.
March 29 and 30 have been allocated for other government bills and business. – The Vibes, February 28, 2023