Govt to propose dates for 5 days of Dewan Rakyat sitting

The government has agreed to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to call for a special Parliament sitting to explain the National Recovery Plan to MPs and amend the rules needed to allow a hybrid parliamentary sitting.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the sitting would be for five days from July 26 to 29 and Aug 2 for the Dewan Rakyat, and three days from Aug 2 to 5 for the Dewan Negara.

“According to Clause (3) Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, all emergency proclamations and ordinances made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be laid before both Houses of Parliament,” it said in a statement.

It added that the sitting would be held in line with SOPs to be determined by the National Security Council and health ministry.

On July 2, Putrajaya said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had agreed for Parliament to convene as soon as possible before Aug 1, following the latest call by Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

The Agong had made the call for Parliament to convene following an audience with Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun and their deputies.

He also made a similar call in the wake of a special meeting of the Malay rulers on June 16. This was followed by a separate statement by the rulers themselves, voicing support for the king’s stand.

They also said they saw no need for the emergency period to extend beyond its scheduled deadline of Aug 1.

The state of emergency was declared in January amid a spike in Covid-19 infections which also saw the enforcement of the second movement control order across large parts of the country.

Under the emergency declaration, Parliament and state assembly sittings have been suspended.