Parliament to sit for 69 days in 2024, 5 fewer than last year

A source says some MPs ‘might make noise’ about the reduction in days this year as they would get less allowance. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The number of days for this year’s Parliament sitting has been reduced from 74 to 69.

A letter from Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin to MPs, sighted by FMT, said the first sitting for the year would take place from Feb 26 until March 27.

The second sitting will be from June 24 to July 18 while the third sitting will be from Oct 7 to Dec 5.

“It has been finalised that the sitting (for 2024) will be for 69 days, which is five days fewer than last year,” a Parliament officer told FMT.

While he was unable to provide any reason behind the reduction in days, he acknowledged that some MPs “might make noise” about it as “fewer days means less allowance”.

Apart from their monthly salary of RM16,000, MPs are eligible to receive RM400 a day for attending Parliament and RM300 a day for official meetings, workshops, briefings, and seminars.

Other perks include a fixed monthly travelling allowance of RM1,500 and a phone allowance of RM900.

The number of days that Parliament sits each year is at the prime minister’s discretion.

Another Parliament officer said although the number of days had been reduced, there might be some changes to the calendar as the year progressed.

“You can’t predict the exact number of days throughout the year because there might be calls for a special sitting,” he said.

“So for now, it’s 69 days… but there might be an increase later on.”

FMT has reached out to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul for comment.

Constitutional expert Shad Saleem Faruqi previously said there was a need to increase the number of parliamentary sittings to help Parliament to better perform its role.

He said the Dewan Rakyat now only met 70 to 80 days a year while in the UK, sittings were about 170 to 180 days a year. - FMT