MPs allowed to quiz ministers during 'briefing', 12 emergency laws to be 'tabled'

 

MPs will be allowed to ask questions and air their views during the five ministerial briefing sessions during the special Dewan Rakyat sitting beginning Monday.

According to the Parliament order paper, three emergency proclamations and nine emergency ordinances will be tabled.

All 12 documents are scheduled to be tabled on July 26, with no indication on the order paper that these documents will be debated and voted on.

On June 29, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had decreed the proclamation of emergency and emergency ordinances should be debated by the MPs, citing the need to do so under Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution.

According to Article 150(7) of the Federal Constitution, unless annulled, the emergency ordinances will continue to be in effect for six months after the expiry of the emergency, which in the present case is Aug 1.

Among others, the emergency ordinances allowed the executive to pass supplementary budget bills without Parliament's permission. Another controversial emergency ordinance criminalised "fake news". 

The order in which cabinet ministers will brief the House are as follows:

1. Prime minister - National Recovery Plan
2. Health minister - Malaysian action plan to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic
3. Science, technology and innovation minister - Vaccination programme
4. Finance minister - Economic aid packages
5. Deputy prime minister and defence minister - Proclamation of emergency

Among the ordinances that will be tabled and a summary of their functions are as follows:

1. Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 - A wide-ranging law allowing the government to seize private property, granting additional powers to the armed forces, suspending elections and suspending legislatures.
2. Emergency (Essential Powers) (No 2) Ordinance 2021 - law dealing with "fake news".
3. Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases)(Amendment) Ordinance 2021 - allows a penalty of up to RM100,000 and seven years jail for breaching Covid-19 protocol. - Mkini