Dewan Rakyat session will be shortened starting November 9

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat has decided that the session will be set from 10 am to 2 pm starting from November 9 to December 15.

According to the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, the decision was made after the COVID-19 Coordination meeting with the whip leaders on Wednesday.

He explained that the change in time was due to the spread of COVID-19, based on the advice of the National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Health (MOH).

In addition, the Questions for Oral Answer session is set for Monday to Wednesday for one hour from 10 am to 11 am, while for Tuesday and Thursday the session will start for 55 minutes from 10.05 am to 11 am.

He said, only one additional question is allowed, if possible to be short and precise.

"Ministerial Inquiry Hours will be held on Tuesday and Thursday for five minutes from 10 am.

"The Honorable Members will read his question and the Honorable Minister will answer in writing on the same day.

"The questions and answers will be published on the Malaysian Parliament portal as soon as possible," he said when reading the Proclamation from the Yang Di-Pertua in the Dewan Rakyat, here on Thursday.

Mohd Rashid also informed that the debate at the Supply Bill 2021 Policy level will sit for eight days from Monday, November 9 to November 12; and November 16 to November 19, 2020.

Meanwhile, the Minister's Answer at the Policy level remained for three days from November 23 to November 25.

"Debates at the Committee level for 11 days, that is Thursday, November 26, November 30, and 1 to 15 December.

"The number of conference days of this Third Meeting can be increased by two days, that is on 16 and 17 December if necessary," he said.

The motion was later proposed by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan and seconded by Alor Gajah Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.