KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 5): Only 80 out of 222 Members of Parliament (MPs) will be allowed to enter the Dewan Rakyat for sittings, including the tabling of Budget 2021 tomorrow evening, said its speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.
According to him, 41 lawmakers from the government and 39 opposition and independent lawmakers are allowed to attend the sitting in the hall at any one time.
Azhar said this was a measure to ensure the safety of parliamentarians as the nation is in the clutches of a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon read out Azhar’s decision in this morning’s proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat, and explained that this decision was taken after Azhar had met with all party whip chiefs and consultations with the National Security Council and the Ministry of Health.
Mohd Rashid said it is up to each party to determine who they would like to send to sit in on the tabling of the Budget tomorrow.
Special cards will be given to MPs chosen to attend.
However, all MPs are allowed to enter the Dewan Rakyat to vote. They will be given 10 minutes to cast their votes.
In the statement read out by Mohd Rashid, Azhar also said that after the meeting with party whips, they have come to a consensus that daily proceedings will be shortened to 2pm beginning next Monday till the end of this parliamentary term on Dec 15.
The oral question and answer time, where MPs can ask questions, and the Minister’s question time have also been reduced to 55 minutes from 90 minutes and to five minutes from 30 minutes respectively.
"MPs will read their questions and the minister will give a written reply to the lawmakers on the same day.
"The question and reply will also be published on the Parliament portal as soon as possible," said the Speaker.
He said the Parliamentary session could be extended by two days to Dec 17, if necessary.
He said this was a temporary measure until the number of Covid-19 cases is under control.
The motion was passed by a majority in the august house this morning.
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