Speaker: May 18 Parliament sitting only for official media

Only government-owned media organisations will be allowed into the Parliament building to cover the May 18 Dewan Rakyat sitting.

This was confirmed by speaker Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof who has prerogative over the House.

“Only government media will be allowed,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted this evening.

The ruling applies to both the inside and outside of the Dewan Rakyat chambers.

Ariff said Covid-19 was the reason for this rule but did not elaborate. He noted that the proceedings will be telecast live.

Earlier today, de facto Parliament and law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said that media access to the sitting would be restricted to RTM and Bernama under Ariff’s instructions.

May 18 will be newsworthy as it marks the first Dewan Rakyat sitting since the “Sheraton Move” political coup triggered a change in government from Pakatan Harapan to Perikatan Nasional.

The government is planning to table four motions and two bills during the one-day sitting.

Harapan has persistently demanded for the sitting to be extended, but PN contends that prolonging the gathering of MPs could pose a Covid-19 contagion risk.

Meanwhile, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has successfully filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

With government business prioritised in proceedings, it remains to be seen if the Langkawi MP’s motion will make it to the floor before the sitting is adjourned. -Mkini