Gazette ordinance to allow virtual parliament, says Umno man

 

Parliament has been suspended until the end of the emergency. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi has questioned the contention of Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun that a virtual parliament sitting cannot be caried out.

Puad asked why the government could not gazette an ordinance allowing virtual parliament sittings during the emergency.

“Before this, they could gazette an ordinance allowing the government to increase the budget without parliamentary approval,” he said on Facebook.

This follows a statement by Azhar that allowing virtual sittings involved certain issues with the Federal Constitution.

He had said that despite many parties stating that sittings could be carried out virtually, as was being done in Australia, it was difficult to implement because legislation had to be amended.

In Australia, Azhar said, a virtual MP is not counted in a quorum and cannot intervene. If he wants to speak, a 15-minute notice must be given in advance, and he is also not allowed to vote.

“Based on Article 62(5) of the Federal Constitution, which involves Parliament procedures, members (of Parliament) who are not present in a parliamentary assembly are not allowed to vote.

“That is why I say (a sitting needs to be) conducted in a physical manner,” he told Berita Harian.

He also said the emergency proclamation by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last December had stipulated that a sitting is to be held in the parliament building,

Puad asked if the King can give his assent to a virtual parliamentary sitting during the emergency.

Many parties have been pressuring the government to reconvene Parliament virtually.

They include Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said, who said Putrajaya should invest in holding a virtual parliamentary session to enable the country to move forward. - FMT