KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 ― Just moments before the Budget 2021 tabling, both Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs called on the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to allow all their fellow colleagues into the Lower House, to also listen to the speech.
After some moments of argument and deliberation, Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan @ Harun then conceded, and allowed all the MPs to enter, lifting the initial limit of only 80 MPs allowed; 41 from PN and 39 from PH.
The call to allow all the other MPs to be allowed in was first made by Opposition Leader and Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and then supported by Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
The call then gained momentum as more MPs from both sides supported Anwar’s call.
“If the justification is that it would be a risk or too crowded, yesterday we all sat in the meeting for a much longer time period.
“I don't think one and a half hours or two hours would affect our health. I seek your consideration to postpone for five minutes to allow parliamentarians who are outside to enter,” Anwar said.
Bung later supported the call, echoing Anwar's sentiments on how the Budget 2021 speech is important for all MPs.
“I feel this is the best suggestion, and I support it because for my friends who are outside, they know that this budget tabling is important for us MPs to listen intently,” Bung said.
Azhar however reiterated his previous sentiment, that the decision to limit the number of MPs today, was done based on a consensus, with party whips from both sides of the political divide agreeing to the arrangement.
“Even this morning, I had a discussion to allow all MPs to be present for the Budget tabling. However, I feel that this matter has been discussed and looked into by all whips and has been agreed upon, and in fact, I also issued a notice, so I feel we should abide,” he said.
Bung however interjected again, pointing out that Azhar still has the powers to allow all MPs to enter the hall.
After Azhar shot down the request, Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman then stood up, saying that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) can still be observed, with enough physical distancing, even with all the MPs being present.
Law minister Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan then stood up to remind the MPs that a motion on the matter had already been passed in Parliament, and as such, the matter should not be brought up again.
Takiyuddin said that otherwise, MPs have to bring up a motion to revise the decision limiting the number of MPs for the Budget 2021 tabling.
Azhar then reminded the MPs that in such cases in future, he must be given a notice to enable due discussions first.
After the display of unity from both sides, Azhar then allowed the rest of the MPs waiting outside the Dewan Rakyat hall, to enter.
Azhar had yesterday issued new rules that were agreed to by all party whips, such as cutting short Dewan Rakyat proceedings to 2pm instead of the usual 5.30pm for the remaining sittings this year (November 9 to December 15), which will result in the Budget 2021 debates being cut short from the initial 89 hours and 30 minutes to just 66 hours.
Under the new rules also applicable to the Budget 2021 tabling today, only 80 MPs comprising 41 government MPs and 39 Opposition MPs will be allowed in the Dewan Rakyat hall at any one time with special entry passes to be issued.
As for which of the MPs can enter the Dewan Rakyat hall, this will be decided by their own political parties, with the special passes to be given to Takiyuddin to coordinate among government MPs and to Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul to coordinate among Opposition and Independent MPs.
The other MPs who are not part of the 80 MPs will be able to record their attendance at two specific entry points in Parliament.
Under the rules, all the MPs — including those not part of the 80 MPs with special passes — will be allowed in during voting time involving division votes.
For this, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker said a bell will be rung for two minutes, followed by a 10-minute break, before it is rung again for two minutes, as was done in the last meeting in August to call MPs from other parts of the Parliament compound to come to the hall to vote.
In the statement on the new Dewan Rakyat rules, the Speaker however did not clarify if the other MPs without special passes would be able to follow the proceedings “live” through video streaming or if they would be still be able to directly participate in debates virtually such as by video-conferencing methods, and did not say if voice votes would still be taken or whether only division votes would be taken under the new rules.
The government has so far resisted suggestions to have the Dewan Rakyat proceedings run virtually and digitally to overcome any concerns of Covid-19 spreading.
