Anwar submits motion to ensure debates in Dewan Rakyat

 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says the income gap has widened, creating a ‘B60’ segment.

PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said today he has submitted a motion for debates to be held at the coming Dewan Rakyat meeting instead of the meeting being devoted to the tabling of government matters.

Anwar said in a Twitter posting that he had submitted the motion today.

He said he wanted to ensure that there would be transparent and comprehensive debates on Emergency ordinances, the Covid-19 situation, vaccination, government expenditures and the National Recovery Plan.

In the motion, he said the Emergency ordinances had failed to achieve the intended aim of lowering Covid-19 infections, while the nation’s economic state was worsening.

The PKR president also said the people were suffering financially, causing the gap between the rich and poor to widen and creating a “B60” income segment.

The figure is a reference to the “B40” and “M20” labels used by the government to refer to the low-income bottom 40% of society (B40), and the middle-income 20% (M20).

Anwar’s B60 figure is a suggestion that 60% of the population are now in the bottom segment.

Anwar also said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in calling for Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible, had wanted the Dewan Rakyat to discuss the ordinances, the pandemic, vaccination, government expenditures and the National Recovery Plan.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said he would advise the King to reconvene Parliament on July 26. However, Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon said today that a formal notice from the Cabinet was still pending.

He said MPs would usually receive 28 days’ notice of a meeting, but under Standing Order 11, notice from the Cabinet would be needed to call a special sitting. Only then could MPs be informed of the agenda.

Rashid said once Parliament receives the notice, MPs would meet to first vote on hybrid sittings and then discuss the logistics of the sittings, as some may choose to attend in person while others may register online. - FMT