Prime Minister's Dept explains why Dewan Rakyat meeting postponed

PETALING JAYA: The postponement of the Dewan Rakyat meeting from March 9 to May 18 is due to several factors, including the need to finalise the appointment of ministers and deputy ministers, says the Prime Minister's Department.

The postponement, it said, was to give a reasonable time for Cabinet members to understand their duties in their ministries and departments.

“It will also give time for newly appointed ministers to prepare themselves to answer questions during the Ministerial Question Time (MQT), debates, question and answer sessions, as well as tabling of laws and motions when Parliament sits,” it said in a statement Thursday (March 5).

The adjournment will also give lawmakers the opportunity to submit their oral and written questions, as well as new motions that are relevant to the current issues in the country, it added.

“The preparation of the calendar for the third session of the 14th Parliament was also implemented based on the relevant Standing Orders and it was confirmed by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

“The Parliament as an institution must be respected by society, including lawmakers themselves,” said the Prime Minister's Department.

The Dewan Rakyat, which was supposed to sit on Monday (March 9), will now sit on May 18.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker 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.

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.