Focus is on Budget 2023

Countdown: Officers rehearsing for the opening ceremony of the Second Term of the 15th Parliament. – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is scheduled to officiate at the opening of the First Meeting of the Second Term of the 15th Parliament tomorrow, the second under the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The first Dewan Rakyat sitting under the unity government on Dec 19 last year lasted for two days, and saw the tabling of a motion of confidence to determine the legitimacy of Anwar’s appointment as the 10th prime minister, and a mini budget.

According to the calendar on the Parliament website, among the highlights of the meeting which will last for 29 days until March 30, are the debate on the Royal Address from Feb 15-21 as well as the re-tabling of the Supply (Budget) Bill 2023 by Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, on Feb 24.

The Bill will then be debated at the policy level for six days starting from Feb 27, after which two days (March 8-9) will be given for ministers to reply before it is debated at the committee level from March 13-28.

Anwar, when addressing the Finance Ministry’s monthly assembly on Feb 8, was reported to have said that Budget 2023 would take into account current economic challenges while driving the country’s growth and attracting investments.

Also expected to grab a lot of attention is the tabling of a white paper on the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines which was found not to have followed procedures, Bernama reported.

In addition, a white paper on Batu Puteh is also expected to be tabled at this Parliament meeting for further action.

The coming Dewan Rakyat sitting will also see the implementation of the reform agenda, including a Prime Minister’s Question and Answer session which will be carried out as a pilot every Tuesday beginning Feb 13.

In a recent interview with Bernama, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul said the session was to enable the Prime Minister to answer questions that are addressed to him. He said the introduction of the session will require amendments to the Standing Order of the Dewan Rakyat before it can be made a regular session.

According to Johari, the Special Chamber session will also be improved by increasing the number of motions from two to four per session.