Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohammad Ariff Yusof said the postponement of Parliament’s sitting from March 9 to May 18 was in accordance with rule 11(2) of the House standing orders.
The rule states: “subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 – the first sitting of the House in each session shall be held in such place on such day and at such hour as the Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong may by proclamation appoint – the leader or deputy (prime minister or deputy prime minister) of the House shall determine at least 28 days before the commencement of each session, the dates on which the House shall meet in the session, provided that the leader or deputy leader of the House may vary from time to time the dates so fixed”.
In a media statement today, Ariff said he agreed with the dates of the year’s sittings proposed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
The first session for the year, which will be opened by the Agong, will be for 15 days from May 18 to June 23.
There will be a break in the sitting from May 26 to 28, for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which is slated to be on May 24 and 25, and the Gawai Dayak harvest festival in Sarawak which falls on June 1 and 2.
There will also be no sitting on June 8, in conjunction with the Agong’s birthday.
The second session of the year will be for 17 days from July 27 – Aug 27 where the 12th Malaysia Plan will be tabled and debated.
There will be a break in sitting on July 30 for Hari Raya Qurban and on August 19 and 20 for Awal Muharam.
Federal lawmakers return for their final longest sitting on September 28.
They will sit for 36 days until November 26, with the October 2 being budget day. – TMI