PETALING JAYA: The upcoming Parliament session will consist of a special five-day briefing session for MPs beginning July 26, and two separate meetings that will take place for 15 and 32 days, respectively, from September onwards, says Datuk Azhar Azizah Harun.
The Dewan Rakyat Speaker said he was informed on Thursday (July 15) by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin that for public interest, a special sitting must be held in accordance with Standing Orders 11(3).
“For that purpose, I was also informed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has decreed for the Prime Minister to hold the meeting even though the Emergency Proclamation, dated Jan 11, is still in force.
Azhar said Dewan Rakyat secretary Dr Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin will issue a notice on the special meeting to all MPs that it will sit for five days beginning Monday (July 26) till Thursday (July 29) and Monday (Aug 2) again, beginning at 10am.
“All MPs are reminded to always abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of Parliament proceedings that were set after taking into account the views of the National Security Council (NSC) and the Health Ministry,” he added.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement dated Thursday, Azhar also said the first meeting of the fourth session of the 14th Parliament will sit for 15 days beginning September 6 till 30.
The second meeting of the fourth session of the 14th Parliament will sit for 32 days, beginning Oct 25 till Dec 16 this year, he added.
Azhar said the fourth session of the 14th Parliament will be officiated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 6 at 10am at the Parliament grounds.
Azhar, also known as “Art” Harun, said the decision for Parliament to meet was made by the Prime Minister in accordance with Standing Orders 11(2).
The upcoming Parliament session will be closely watched by the public, as Perikatan Nasional has a slim majority of 115 MPs, with Barisan Nasional accounting for 42 MPs.
There were concerns about Perikatan’s Parliamentary majority after Umno announced its withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin as Prime Minister recently.
Sources in Umno have indicated that anywhere from five to 12 Umno MPs may observe the Umno supreme council decision and retract support for Muhyiddin as prime minister.
However, other Umno sources aligned with the Perikatan coalition have indicated that Muhyiddin still enjoys the support of at least 30 Barisan MPs.
