‘Parliament dates in line with Standing Order’

PETALING JAYA: The first of the three Parliament meetings for this year will start on May 18 – more than two months from the original scheduled date under the previous government.

Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said the first meeting of the third session of the 14th Parliament will sit for 15 days from May 18 to June 23.“As the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, I find that the dates for the meetings are in line with Standing Order 11(2), ” he said yesterday.There are three meetings of the Dewan Rakyat in a year or session.

The opening of the first meeting this session on May 18 will be graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.But the Dewan Rakyat will not sit from May 26 to 28 due to Hari Raya Aidilfitri. There will also be a break on June 1 and 2 for Hari Gawai.

The Dewan Rakyat will also not have a sitting on June 8 as it falls on the King’s birthday.

Mohamad Ariff said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has also proposed the calendar for the entire year.

The second meeting of the Dewan Rakyat, from July 27 to Aug 27, will sit for 17 days. During that meeting, the 12th Malaysia Plan will be tabled on Aug 6.

The Dewan Rakyat will not sit on July 30 as well as Aug 19 and 20 to observe Hari Raya Haji and Awal Muharram respectively.

The third and final meeting of the year, from Sept 28 to Nov 26, will span 36 sittings.

This is often the longest meeting for every session as the national Budget will be tabled, debated and passed during this time.

Budget 2021 will be tabled by the Finance Minister on Friday, Oct 2.

The Dewan Rakyat will also take a break on Oct 29 due to Maulidul Rasul.