LIVE | Azhar says he will not act 'controversially' as speaker

LIVE | Malaysiakini brings you live coverage of the developments in the Dewan Rakyat today.

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SALIENT POINTS

• Social distancing measures under new normal
• MPs quiz Muhyiddin why stimulus package not debated
• Muhyiddin tables motion to remove speaker
• Anwar questions why remove speaker when track record is good
• Mahathir against replacing speaker when current one is still fit for work
• 111 Aye, 109 Nay - Dewan Rakyat speaker ousted
• Deputy speaker resigns before vote to oust him
• Azhar takes oath as new Dewan Rakyat speaker without vote
• No other candidate for deputy speaker, Azalina appointed without vote
• ‘Too dark’ comment sends Dewan Rakyat into chaos
• Parliament ends for today with new speaker and deputy

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This concludes Malaysiakini's live coverage of the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

Azhar says he will not act 'controversially' as speaker

3.45pm - Newly-minted Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun insists he will not act “controversially” as he intends to follow the Parliament standing orders.

“People say that when I was appointed as the Election Committee (EC) it also became a controversy, but I did not act controversially (then) and I won’t act controversially here.

“We have the standing orders and I intend to follow it,” Azhar says in a press conference at the Parliament after today’s proceedings ended.

He denies he was instructed to accept the position as the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

“I was accepted by the government to become the speaker and I agreed.

“I think it is an honour for me and my family. It is a challenge and it’s a way for me to serve the nation,” says Azhar (photo).

After his first day today, he says he does not regret accepting the offer as it is a “good experience”.

When asked about the remarks made against Kasthuriraani Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) earlier, he says everyone is against sexist remarks but that particular remark is open to interpretation.

“At the time, those who made it apologised and withdrew the remark, but I hope in the future, there will be no sexist remarks again in the Dewan,” he says.

Meanwhile, the newly-appointed Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said (below), who is the first woman to hold that position in Malaysia, says this is a good approach for the country.

“Maybe there will come a time when the speaker of both Houses will be women.

“There shouldn’t be an issue of gender in appointing a speaker,” says Azalina.

Parliament ends for today with new speaker and deputy

3.35pm - With the motion to postpone the proceedings by de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan, the Dewan Rakyat session will resume tomorrow morning at 10am.

The new Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun is expected to hold a press conference soon with the new deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said.

‘Too dark’ comment sends Dewan Rakyat into chaos

3.20pm - The Dewan Rakyat descends into chaos after Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahman (PN-Baling) interjects Kasthuri Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) by saying, “Too dark, can’t see”.

Kasthuri was protesting against the lack of women in the list of MPs being tabled to replace the current parliamentary selection committee when Abdul Azeez suddenly said, “Too dark, can’t see”.

She appeared to not have noticed his words as she continued speaking, but after she was done, RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) stood up and demanded Abdul Azeez retract his words.

This caused Abdul Azeez to retort, “I am also dark, what’s the problem? Being dark is not the issue.

“I did not say this YB is dark, I never said she is dark. I am also dark, just put on some powder,” he later said, amid protests from opposition MPs.

As a number of opposition MPs continue to demand that Abdul Azeez retract his words, Kasthuri then said, according to standing order 36, “it shall be out of order for members of the House to use offensive language or make sexist remarks”.

She then said Abdul Azeez not only called her dark but also asked her to put on some powder.

“He is a racist,” Rayer shouted.

Abdul Azeez, as well as several government MPs, said there is nothing wrong with putting on powder.

At some point, Abdul Azeez retracted his statement, but the opposition MPs continued to insist he apologise for his remarks as well.

Meanwhile, Kasthuri questioned why all the women MPs from the government were silent in the face of such sexism.

As both sides began to shout at each other, de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the motion to replace the parliamentary selection committee members should be put up to a vote immediately as there were no debates.

After a quick voice vote which was in favour of the motion, the shouting continued over Abdul Azeez’s remarks as Azhar tried to calm the House down.

Eventually, Takiyuddin moved a motion to postpone the proceedings to tomorrow morning, which was when the arguing finally ended.

No other candidate for deputy speaker, Azalina appointed without vote

3.15pm - Newly-minted Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun officially announces the appointment of Azalina Othman Said (PN-Pengerang) as a deputy speaker without a vote.

Azhar says there were no other candidates put forth for the position of deputy speaker and as such, Azalina was appointed without a vote.

This is despite earlier protests from the opposition regarding the appointment of Azalina as a new deputy speaker. The opposition claimed a 14-day notice was required after the position was vacated.

Nga Kor Ming (above, right) had earlier resigned as deputy speaker in a press conference during the lunch break. Nga said his decision was in solidarity with Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.

Mohamad Ariff was removed as speaker before the lunch break.

Azalina nominated as deputy speaker

3.10pm - After Azhar completes his speech, M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) asks the speaker to review the procedure by which he was appointed, insisting it was not proper.

However, Azhar rules that based on the Parliament standing order, a matter cannot be revisited once it has been decided.

He then invites Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to proceed with his next motions.

Muhyiddin then states that he was withdrawing the motion to remove Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming as the deputy speaker since Nga has resigned.

Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) interjects, stating that since Nga only resigned today, there should be a 14-day period to nominate a new candidate.

Azhar decides that there is no rule to say that the nomination of a candidate can only happen when there is a vacancy.

Chang Lih Kang (PKR-Tanjung Malim) and R Sivarasa (PKR-Sugai Buloh) voices their dispute on the matter.

However, Azhar (photo) proceeds with the process to nominate the deputy speaker, ignoring protests from the opposition.

Muhyiddin then tables his motion to nominate Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said as deputy speaker.

Opposition demands vote

2.50pm - Newly-minted Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun urges calm: "Please take care of your decorum, this is the Dewan Rakyat".

However, the House descends into pandemonium. A shouting match ensues between both sides.

Khalid Abdul Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam) brands Azhar a "back door speaker".

Azhar begins his speech, thanking Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for his appointment.

However, the opposition chants in unison "Vote! Vote! Vote!"

Azhar says his appointment is an important responsibility but opposition MPs continue to heckle him.

Azhar then stops his speech and asks Khalid to leave the House until the end of the sitting.

"Please leave," Azhar says.

This prompts more protests from opposition MPs. "What is the justification," they demand.

Khalid was subsequently escorted out of the Dewan Rakyat and Azhar resumes his speech.

Azhar takes oath as new Dewan Rakyat speaker without vote

2.45pm - Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon asks Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to proceed.

Muhyiddin tables a motion to nominate former Election Commission chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun as the new Dewan Rakyat speaker but can hardly be heard as opposition MPs protest loudly.

Azhar is then invited into the Dewan Rakyat to be sworn in as the protests continued. No vote was taken.

Azhar raises his right hand as he takes his oath.

Kasthuriraani Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan) continues to protest: "Who voted for this speaker? Who voted for this speaker? Where's the vote?"

Opposition not allowed to nominate alternative speaker candidate

2.30pm - The Dewan Rakyat reconvenes to debate a motion to appoint former Election Commission chief Azhar Azizan Harun as the new speaker.

Before the motion is tabled by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the opposition proposes to nominate their own candidate.

However, de facto law minister Takiyuddin says a 14-day notice is needed for the nomination and that the opposition had not nominated anyone else during that time frame.

Ngeh Koo Ham (above) (DAP-Beruas) argues that the vacancy only happened today and therefore the 14-day period should begin from today.

However, deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon ruled that the time to nominate a new candidate had lapsed.

Deputy speaker resigns before vote to oust him

2.25pm - Deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming, at a press conference in the media room, announces his resignation.

His resignation comes before a motion to oust him is voted on in the Dewan Rakyat.

Nga (photo, right) says he is resigning in solidarity with Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof who was earlier ousted as the Dewan Rakyat speaker following a motion that was approved with 111 votes in favour, to 109 votes against.

“I am resigning from my position with immediate effect... I am willing to do so, in solidarity with Ariff.

“We bow out in honour. That is the right thing to do. I do not want to serve a government without a mandate from the people,” he says.

111 Aye, 109 Nay - Dewan Rakyat speaker ousted

1.00pm - The motion to remove speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof has been approved with 111 votes in favour, 109 against, while one MP was not in attendance.

Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon, who is the Batu Pahat MP, did not vote as he was chairing the proceedings.

The proceedings will break for lunch until 2.30pm after which there will be a motion to replace Ariff with former Election Commission (EC) chairperson Azhar Azizan Harun.

There will be three subsequent motions, namely to install the former EC chief as the new Dewan Rakyat speaker, followed by a motion for Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming's removal as deputy speaker, and another motion for installing Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said as Nga's replacement.

This motion for the removal of the Parliament speaker is seen as a proxy confidence vote for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and it appears that he has passed this test.

In the previous Dewan Rakyat sitting, Muhyiddin had the razor-thin majority support of 113 MPs in the 222-member House.

Since then, Shahruddin Md Salleh (Ind – Sri Gading) had quit the government and will likely side with the opposition but this is cancelled out by Jugah Muyang (Ind – Lubuk Antu) quitting PKR to become a PN-friendly independent.

The status quo was reflected today as Muhyiddin still appears to command support from 113 MPs.

Apart from the 111 MPs who voted for the motion today, Rashid and Maximus Ongkili (PBS-Kota Marudu) who is absent due to hospitalisation, are also aligned to Muhyiddin.

Parliament begins bloc vote on speaker's fate, lunch postponed

12.55pm - De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan (below) tables a motion to postpone the Dewan Rakyat's lunch break due at 1pm until the motion to remove the speaker is voted on.

The postponement motion is approved through a voice vote.

The House then commences the voting process on the motion to remove the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

Opposition MPs ask for a bloc vote and is backed by 15 MPs, which is the minimum requirement.

A bloc vote commences.

For information, a bloc vote requires the votes of all MPs to be counted.

De facto law minister defends motion as constitutional

12.45pm - De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan defends the motion to remove speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming, saying that it is constitutional.

The opposition earlier said this motion does not follow the procedures as stated in the Parliament standing orders (SO).

“Do not look at the SO only. Based on the Federal Constitution, under Article 57, the speaker can be chosen at any time under three conditions…

“(The third condition) is whenever the Dewan Rakyat resolves as such. This is the situation we find ourselves in. We are bringing the issue of vacating the position and bringing a new speaker, we are not talking about firing anyone,” Takiyuddin says.

He also points out that this motion, which was submitted by the Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on June 29, exceeds the 14-day notice required and that it was accepted by speaker Ariff.

“This motion was accepted by the speaker as a motion which is in order and in accordance with the rules,” Takiyuddin says.

BN MPs: We wanted Dr M as PM but he resigned

12.40pm - Shahidan Kassim (BN-Arau) is the second debater for the government on the motion to remove Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff.

However, the debate takes a strange turn focussing on Mahathir instead of the motion.

Shahidan (above) argues that the reason the speaker is about to be changed is due to Mahathir resigning as the prime minister, paving the way for new leadership to take over.

"All this happened because of Tun, because of Langkawi who quit. That's why there is a change in speaker," Shahidan says.

"We BN, PAS, GPS were asked to support Tun as the prime minister but unfortunately Tun resigned so we were forced to choose someone else.

"When Tun quit, we had no choice but to choose Pagoh as prime minister," he adds.

Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) then interjects that he too wanted Mahathir as prime minister.

"We wanted Tun but he decided to resign so (we) accept it. A new government has been formed, there is nothing wrong.

"Last time when Tun appointed Latheefa Koya to the MACC and Tommy Thomas 'rock and roll' as (attorney-general), we did not question it either.

"The prime minister just wants a speaker that is in line with the government in the interest of the people," Bung Moktar (above) says.

Shahidan then offers Mahathir to respond. Mahathir maintains that he cannot work with Umno.

"I choose who I want to cooperate with. When given the choice to cooperate with Umno, Umno is not the same Umno that was founded.

"It has been hijacked by certain people. Therefore, I cannot cooperate with Umno," Mahathir says.

Bung Moktar then interjects saying: "You were the one who taught us how to run Umno, we are only following Tun's teaching".

Shahidan then ends the debate and passes the floor to de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan to wind up on behalf of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Mahathir against replacing speaker when current one is still fit for work

12.20pm - Dr Mahathir Mohamad (IND-Langkawi) says they are currently debating something which is not normal, that is the removal of a Parliament speaker for no good reason.

“We have a new normal. This new normal was introduced by the prime minister so that he can change the speaker in the Dewan Rakyat.

“If (the speaker) dies or if he is too sick to work, then yes (we can replace him), but this is because he (Muhyiddin Yassin) has a different candidate.

“I also have a different candidate for the prime minister,” Mahathir (below) quips, which garners laughter from the other MPs.

Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (PN-Baling) interjects and challenges Mahathir to bring his candidate in for a vote, but he was brushed off by Mahathir who said Abdul Azeez could shout all he wants but it will not change facts.

“The fact is, there is no need for this motion to be introduced in this Dewan Rakyat. There is no reason to change the speaker,” Mahathir insists.

The speaker must be someone neutral who does not side with anyone, he explained.

“If he was chosen by the government so that he will side with the government, that is not a speaker. If he sides with the government all the time, we might as well consider the prime minister as the speaker,” Mahathir adds.

Throughout his speech, Mahathir was repeatedly interrupted and heckled by several government MPs, such as Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (PN-Pasir Salak), Nazri Aziz (PN-Padang Rengas) as well as Abdul Azeez.

BN likens speaker removal to Port Dickson by-election

12.15pm - Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh) begins debating the motion to remove Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof for the government.

He says there is nothing wrong with Ariff but a new candidate is needed with the change of government.

Nik Muhammad (above) adds that the opposition should not assume Ariff's nominated replacement Azhar Azizan Harun is a bad candidate.

"All of them are good, I don't doubt it," he says.

Noh Omar (BN-Tanjung Karang) then interjects, pointing out that the Federal Constitution does not require any reason to remove the speaker.

Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) also interjects, likening the motion to former Port Dickson MP Danyal Balagopal Abdullah resigning to make way for Anwar Ibrahim to contest the seat.

"What is the difference? That one even wasted taxpayer's money," Abdul Azeez (above) says.

This prompted protests from PKR MPs, including Chang Lih Kang (PKR-Tanjung Malim) who questions if the current speaker had resigned.

Nik Muhammad then concludes his speech in support of the motion.

Dr Mahathir Mohamand (IND-Langkawi) then continues the debate for the opposition.

Anwar questions why remove speaker when track record is good

12.00pm - After the earlier commotion dies down, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim questions why the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government wanted to remove speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof without justification.

“I ask the prime minister to reconsider and do not make this mistake. In our opinion, this tarnishes the sanctity of the Parliament.

“If we have a speaker with impressive credentials and good track record, but we want to simply use our powers to replace him with the excuse that there are new candidates… this is a very unreasonable excuse,” Anwar says.

It is not right for MPs to use their powers to fire a speaker who has performed so well in his role, Anwar says.

“Where is our conscience as an MP?” he asks.

This would be the first time something like this has happened in the history of the country, he points out, as there has never been a speaker replaced through this method, without a good justification.

Opposition MPs protest Rashid's handling of motion

11.46am - Deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon allows two MPs from each side to debate Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's motion to remove Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof with 10 minutes given to each.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim protests, asking that more time to be given as it is a historic motion.

Rashid refuses and when Anwar (below) persists, another MP from the government is asked to debate the motion.

Anwar then grudgingly agrees to debate but is interjected by Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) who argues that the speaker can only be replaced if there is a vacancy.

They demand that Rashid make a ruling on the matter but Rashid ignores them, claiming the opposition's 10 minutes is up.

This prompts a chorus of protest from opposition MPs.

"My ruling is to proceed... I gave 10 minutes to the opposition leader, the time is almost up. I ask the other side to debate," he says.

Rashid (below) says Anwar has a minute left, to which he shrugged.

"I want to put on record that despite a question to the speaker about the vacancy, he did not answer it.

"It is the first time that a question is not addressed by the speaker - be it whether he is afraid or unqualified," Anwar says.

Anwar then proceeds with the debate, defending Mohamad Ariff's performance.

Muhyiddin tables motion to remove speaker

11.46am - Question Time concludes. Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin tables the customary first motion for the police to ensure that MPs can have access to the Parliament building which was quickly approved.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin then tables his awaited motion on the removal of Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.

Deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon is now presiding over the House instead of Mohamad Ariff.

Banter over bamboo

11.20am - Friendly banter takes place after Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (Amanah-Lumut) asks Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali (above) about plans to replace oil palm plantations with bamboo.

After Khairuddin explains that the government has no plans for replacement but will improve the bamboo sector, Hatta says he is glad that PN, which now in power, is no longer making fun of the industry.

"Last time, it was politicised with someone asking which species is suitable to be used as the exhaust pipe of a flying car," says Hatta (below).

However, Khairuddin shot back that it was a matter of approach and presentation.

"The issue is in the way of answering by linking oil palm to bamboo. Oil palm is a separate issue that needs to be improved on and bamboo is also a separate issue that needs to be improved.

"But that (linking bamboo and oil palm) was Seputeh's approach," he says in reference to Teresa Kok Suh Sim (DAP-Seputeh) who was the former plantation industries and commodities minister.

11.00am - Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) asks if Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) intends to provide a discount for assessment tax during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa (above) says there are no such plans but says that other measures have been taken including a six-month rent exemption for public housing owned by DBKL and traders using DBKL premises.

In a follow-up question, Fong asks why an assessment tax discount is not being considered to which Annuar explains that the Local Government Act does not have a provision offering discounts for assessment tax.

However, he says the law allows people to apply for an exemption if they are unable to rent out their premises.

Ruckus as government questioned for hiring US-based company to develop MySejahtera app

10.45am - A minor commotion erupts in the Dewan Rakyat as Maszlee Malik (IND-Simpang Renggam) questions Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof over the government enlisting United States-based company KPISoft Inc for the development of the MySejahtera app instead of a local firm.

“The question is, why is Perikatan Nasional (PN) which so-called defends the Malays and the Muslims, why did they not give (the opportunity) to Malay-Muslim companies which develop digital software and we have many such companies,” Maszlee (below) asks.

Redzuan replies that just because KPISoft Inc is registered in the US does not mean that it cannot be owned by Malaysians as he had earlier said that the company is actually Malaysian.

However, Maszlee interjects and speaks over Redzuan, questioning why the government was channelling tax money to a company based overseas.

This starts a commotion as Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (PN-Baling) also begins speaking over Maszlee as Redzuan continues to attempt to answer the question.

Several other MPs join in the chaos as they all continue to talk over each other.

“We need to open our minds, we always talk about globalisation...” Redzuan starts again when he is interrupted by Maszlee again, who reiterated his question about tax money being channelled to a company abroad.

Before Redzuan (above) could answer, Abdul Azeez slams Maszlee, “When you’re the opposition, you want to be smart, but when you were the minister, you weren’t smart”.

The speaker breaks up the argument by going to the next question.

MPs quiz Muhyiddin why stimulus package not debated

10.30am - The first query during Question Time comes from Rubiah Wang (GPS-Kota Samarahan) who asks about the state of the economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

She also asks how the prime minister and the government can ensure no one is left out from the economic stimulus programme.

Muhyiddin replies, "That is why we have set up the Economic Stimulus Implementation & Coordination Unit Between National Agencies (Laksana) to oversee the list of the stimulus package so that it reaches all sections of society."

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim then follows up with a question on why the stimulus package was not debated in Parliament.

"The impact is huge, the amount is huge. Is it not reasonable to let MPs debate it? Why did we prevent debate about the economic recovery while the appointments in government-linked companies can continue?" he says in reference to the government's decision to prevent any debate during the one-day Parliament sitting on May 18.

Muhyiddin says he had expected Anwar's question and stressed the urgency of the economic stimulus plan.

"The government had no choice. Immediate action had to be taken even before the Parliament sessions started... The people cannot wait for the Parliament session, they needed help immediately," he says.

Muhyiddin assures that Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz will present to the House details of the stimulus package in the near future.

Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna), in a follow-up question, remarks that Sabah was able to hold a three-day sitting in April despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shafie (below), who is also the Sabah chief minister, expresses concern about the unemployment situation and asks what the federal government is doing about it.

Muhyiddin replies: "The unemployment rate is indeed going up due to Covid-19 and it's a global problem. The projection now is at five percent."

"Around 720,000 (are unemployed) and this could increase to 860,000 at the end of the year. This does not give me joy but what is important is to arrest the deterioration," he says, listing several measures undertaken by the government including loan moratoriums.

Social distancing measures under new normal

10.10am - Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof officially announces Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson) as the opposition leader.

“Based on the feedback I have received, I am satisfied that Anwar has received support from among the opposition members to be appointed the opposition leader,” says Ariff.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ariff (below) says there has to be a new normal in the way Parliament is run.

“In the Dewan Rakyat, MPs also have to go through the new normal and always comply with social distancing.

“Plus, there are 87 MPs who are more than 60 years old, who are definitely at high risk,” he says.

He also explains the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Dewan Rakyat which includes observing social distancing measures. This means only 174 MPs will be placed in the main area of the Dewan Rakyat.

Some of the government backbenchers and independent MPs will be placed in the public gallery while some of the oppositions MPs are placed at the officers' area to the speaker’s left.

Ariff says the MPs sitting in those areas can use the microphones prepared for them, or they can go to the prepared area if they have any questions or debates.

Anwar (above) then urges the speaker to install temporary microphones for the MPs sitting in the public gallery and the officers’ area.

Bung Moktar Radin (PN-Kinabatangan) agrees with Anwar, saying that he feels bad for his colleagues sitting in the public gallery who may trip (tersungkur) and fall when heading to the prepared area to ask their questions or to debate.

The speaker says the Parliament is trying their best to adapt to the new normal under the Covid-19 pandemic.

First full Parliament session of PN government begins

10.00am - The Dewan Rakyat bell starts to ring, summoning all MPs into the House.

The session this morning will start with the customary Question Time where MPs can direct their questions to government ministries for explanation and clarification.

This is expected to last until 11.30am, after which the order of business will begin, including Muhyiddin Yassin's motions to replace Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamed Ariff Md Yusof and deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming.

The PN government intends to nominate former Election Commission chief Azhar Azizan Harun and Pengerang MP Azalina Othman as their respective replacements.

Today marks the first day of a full Parliament sitting since the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government took over in March. This sitting will go on until Aug 27.

The last sitting on May 18, which lasted for a single day, was only to hear the royal address with no debates allowed, prompting accusations that the PN government was trying to stall attempts to test Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's majority in the House.

Since then, at least three variations of a confidence vote have been submitted by government and opposition MPs but none are likely to go to the floor as government motions always take priority over motions by individual MPs.

The government motions that are at the top of the list include four by Muhyiddin to remove the Dewan Rakyat speaker and deputy speaker and to replace them with PN's own candidates.

However, the premier's motions are now seen as a proxy confidence vote for him.

If Muhyiddin fails to rally enough MPs to remove Ariff and Nga, it could reflect on his lack of support in the House. Conversely, if he succeeds, Muhyiddin would be on a stronger footing.

According to the previous Dewan Rakyat sitting, Muhyiddin has the support of 113 MPs in the 222-member House.

Since then, Sri Gading MP Shahruddin Md Salleh had quit the government and will likely side with the opposition but this has been evened out by Lubuk Antu MP Jugah Muyang quitting PKR to become a PN-friendly independent.

Umno Youth chief: No choice but dissolution if Muhyiddin's motions fail

Govt and opposition blocs gear up ahead of Parliament showdown

BN hopes for united front to aid Muhyiddin in removal of speaker, deputy speaker

Key issues for upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting