Next Dewan Rakyat special meeting proposed for June 7

 

The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department has proposed June 7 for the next special meeting of the Dewan Rakyat over an anti-hopping law.

Contacted by Malaysiakini, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the date will require the agreement of the newly formed special select committee and cabinet to proceed.

Under the standing orders, setting the date of Dewan Rakyat special meetings is the prerogative of the prime minister.

The date for the new special meeting takes into account the time needed by the special select committee on restricting MPs from switching parties to scrutinise relevant bills and laws.

"A proposed schedule has been drawn up by the Legal Affairs Division. If the special select committee agrees to it, the schedule will serve as a guide.

"The schedule will also be tabled in the cabinet," the minister added.

Bill tabling postponements

Initially, Wan Junaidi - the chief architect of the legislation to restrict MPs from switching parties - planned to table the bill on March 21 when the regular Dewan Rakyat was in session.

However, the cabinet postponed it to a special meeting of the Dewan Rakyat on April 11. On April 6, the cabinet decided to table a different bill altogether.

Following last-minute negotiations with Pakatan Harapan, the government and the opposition coalition jointly decided the bills had to be scrutinised by a new special select committee first.

According to Harapan, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob pledged to hold a special sitting at the end of May to pass those bills.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob

The Legal Affairs Division may have proposed a special meeting in early June after taking into account that the end of May coincides with harvest festivals in Sabah and Sarawak.

Wan Junaidi also confirmed the special select committee will convene its inaugural meeting on April 15.

Notice received

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said and Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan both confirmed receiving a notice from the Dewan Rakyat secretary to attend the meeting.

Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Wan Junaidi, who is chairing the special select committee, previously indicated there will be four or five meetings.

"I suggested that we should meet with the Attorney-General's Chambers first so they can present the draft of the bill.

"We're not starting from scratch. If this is done, perhaps we can wrap it up in two or three meetings," he added.

The special select committee's mandate is as follows:

• Define what it means to restrict MPs from switching parties;

• Study proposals to abolish Article 48(6), among other articles, of the Federal Constitution; and

• Draft a bill to restrict MPs from switching parties.

Other members of the committee are Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (BN-Padang Rengas), Hamzah Zainudin (Perikatan Nasional-Larut), Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS-Sibuti), Gobind Singh Deo (Harapan-Puchong), Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (Harapan-Sepang), Wilfred Madius Tangau (Harapan-Tuaran), and Ignatius Darell Leiking (Warisan-Penampang). - Mkini