Dewan Rakyat convenes for speaker election, PM’s confidence vote

 

The Dewan Rakyat is convening for the first time after the 15th general election.

MPs will be electing a new Dewan Rakyat speaker, followed by a confidence vote in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

We will bring you the updates from time to time.

---

Long queues

9.25am: It takes about 30 minutes for non-MPs to clear the queue just to get into the Parliament building, considerably longer than before.

Press personnel will still be largely confined to a windowless room - often known as "the dungeon" - where they can follow debates through television.

Occasionally, MPs will hold press conferences in the media room.

---

Proceedings to start with speaker’s election

9am: As usual, today’s Dewan Rakyat session will begin at 10am.

MPs will first elect a new Dewan Rakyat speaker.

PKR’s Johari Abdul is slated to be the government’s candidate for the job while Perikatan Nasional will nominate former Kangar MP Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

Once a new speaker is elected, MPs will then be sworn in, after which they will elect the deputy speakers.

BN’s Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Md Nor and Pakatan Harapan’s Lanang MP Alice Lau are expected to be the government’s candidates.

Following this, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will table the symbolic motion for police to ensure that MPs are not obstructed from entering Parliament.

After that, the government will table for the first reading a bill on the Consolidated Fund - likely to be part of the “mini-budget”.

The first reading will have no debates and is a procedural matter.

This will be followed by the biggest event of today’s session - the vote of confidence on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to be tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof.

It is likely that the Consolidated Fund bill and other budget bills to keep Putrajaya in operation will be debated tomorrow. - Mkini