KUALA LUMPUR – MPs will now have 10 extra minutes to enter the Dewan Rakyat in the event a bloc voting is called, Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul announced today.
Johari said the decision was made during a meeting of the selection committee, which was attended and agreed upon by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli (Pandan-PH), Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang-BN), Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (Putrajaya-PN), and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN).
It took into consideration the distance between the Dewan Rakyat’s main block and the block housing the MPs’ offices.
“Now, whenever a division is called, the bell will ring for two minutes before I suspend the sitting for 10 minutes. (This is) to allow ample time for MPs to take part in the voting," he said at the start of today’s Dewan Rakyat evening session.
“After that, the bell will be rung for another two minutes before bloc voting is held.”
Johari said the new ruling is made in accordance with Standing Orders 12(2) and 99 of the Dewan Rakyat.
Standing Order 12(2) grants the speaker the power to suspend a sitting for a stated time, while the latter provision stipulates that the speaker’s decision on any House matters is final and that he may issue rulings from time to time.
Johari said this new practice will be in effect until the end of the current parliamentary term.
Prior to this, if a division is called, MPs are only given a meagre two minutes to enter the House. The bell will then be rang a second time to mark the start of the voting.
Those who do not enter in time will not be allowed to take part.
Johari noted that the short period given to lawmakers to enter the House has previously proven to be cumbersome for MPs.
“I remember in the previous parliamentary session (that) there was a case of a woman MP falling because she was rushing.” – The Vibes, March 13, 2023
