Although the third session of the 13th Parliament is now in progress, bills for debate have yet to be presented to MPs.

Padang Serai MP N Surendran said this would prevent MPs from making adequate preparations for debates.

"When we entered the Parliament chamber, we were disappointed to see that no bills up for debate in this session were placed on our tables.

"Neither had these bills been sent to us earlier or put up on the Parliament website," Surendran ( right ) said in a press statement today.

One crucial bill to be tabled this session is the new Prevention of Terrorism Bill, which Surendran said would have wide impact on civil liberties and law enforcement.

"Yet, we have not been given copies of the bill, even though the sitting has started.

"It has been the same, year in and year out. It is usual for the government to release bills just a day or two before debate begins," lamented Surendran.

He added that the Dewan Rakyat, unlike the House of Commons in the UK, almost never refers bills to the select committees for scrutiny before they are tabled.

The current session of Parliament began today.