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On 26 July, when the Dewan Rakyat reconvenes for a five-day special sitting, only 80 Members of Parliament (MPs) could be allowed to attend each session, according to the Dewan Rakyat committee
Earlier today, 18 July, deputy speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon said that the proposal will be discussed by the Dewan Rakyat committee and the respective party chief whips before it is finalised next week.
The five-day Parliament sitting will be from 26 July until 29 July and on 2 August.
“The sitting will be held from 10am to 1pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm. The proposal for only 80 MPs to attend each session is similar to the resolution taken during last year’s sitting,” New Straits Times quoted him as saying.
“Like last year, of the 222 MPs, only 80 will be allowed to enter.”
The matters that will be tabled during the sessions will revolve around the COVID-19 pandemic and that MPs will be allowed to ask questions
“The MPs will be allowed to ask questions but the motion for the sitting to be held using a hybrid approach will not be tabled since we can sit as usual,” Rashid told reporters after visiting the Prihatin Johor Mobile Vaccination Tour programme at the Sri Stulang People’s Housing Programme (PPR) in Johor Bahru.
Rashid, who is also the Batu Pahat MP, added that the Dewan Rakyat committee will also propose that each session is attended by 44 government MPs and 36 opposition MPs to fill up the 80 MPs cap.
“There will be a morning and afternoon session so the MPs can change and take turns, but they have to comply will the standard operating procedures (SOPs),” the Batu Pahat MP added.
Image via Raja Jaafar Ali/Utusan Malaysia
There will also be a limit on the number of officers who are allowed to accompany ministers and deputy ministers to the parliament
“Ministers and deputy ministers will also need to limit the number of officers accompanying them to just two or three. We have to control (the numbers) to ensure strict compliance with SOPs,” he said.