DECEMBER 22 ― Members of parliament (MPs) have reportedly submitted proposals including starting the Dewan Rakyat sitting at 2pm instead of the current 10am.
According to Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul, this was to enable the Cabinet ministers to carry out their respective administrative affairs before attending the Dewan Rakyat sitting.
Other proposals included extending the Parliament session between 100 and 110 days as well as to introduce leniency in the dress code for MPs, such as wearing formal suits without neckties.
Johari said a committee would be formed to look into the proposals.
What about hybrid sittings?
Lest we forget, on June 24 last year, then Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon declared that Parliament had adequate facilities to implement a hybrid Dewan Rakyat sitting at any time if necessary.
Rashid had also said that Parliament was also in the process of finalising other technical aspects required.
That was quite a statement from the Speaker’s office.
It followed a statement from the government, made by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan who said that the government was looking into holding a hybrid Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara sessions where MPs would be able to take part physically as well as virtually.
Will there be a virtual element to the sittings of the 15th Parliament?
A virtual sitting does not require amendments to the Federal Constitution. Article 55(1) of the Constitution does not mandate that Parliament meets in-person. Article 44 says Parliament consists of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA), Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat.
Clearly, Parliament is not the building called Parliament House. It is the collection of members of the two Houses as well as the YDPA who may meet at the Parliament House ― or elsewhere as summoned by the YDPA ― in-person or virtually.
Articles 55(1) and 62(5) do not specify that a sitting of Parliament must be physical. And Article 62(1) allows Parliament to regulate its own procedures while Article 63(1) prevents a challenge on the validity of any proceedings in either House of Parliament in any court.
Since each House is constitutionally mandated to regulate its own procedure and its proceedings are non-justiciable, each may resolve to meet in-person and/or virtually.
The introduction of a virtual element to parliamentary sittings simply requires a resolution of the House.
The United Kingdom’s House of Commons, among others, offers a working model of a hybrid sitting.
So, what about hybrid sittings of the Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Speaker?
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
