Dewan Rakyat adjourns sitting four times after Istana's statement
In a rare move, the Dewan Rakyat adjourned for a third time in the same day during today’s special Parliament sitting.
Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Azalina Said Othman said discussion on the order of sitting was still underway, therefore she postponed the sitting for an hour when the House sat again at 2.30pm after lunch break.
“The discussion related to...
In an unprecedented move, the Dewan Rakyat adjourned for a fourth time in the same day during today’s special Parliament sitting.
Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon abruptly announced at 3.30pm that two individuals who had been present in Parliament have tested positive for Covid-19.
He said everyone will be screened immediately and no one is allowed to leave until the test results are out.
As such, he adjourned the meeting to 5.15pm.
Earlier, when the House sat again at 2.30pm after lunch break, Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said said the discussion on the order of sitting was still underway, therefore she postponed the sitting for the third time to 3.30pm.
“The discussion related to the order of the sitting for today is still underway, as such, in accordance with Clause 12(2) of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Order, I will postpone the sitting to 3.30pm,” she told Dewan Rakyat curtly before she left the House.
Clause 12(2) of the Standing Order allows the speaker to suspend the sitting at any time.
RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) immediately asked why the need for the postponement while his colleague, Cha Kee Chin (Harapan-Rasah), asked: “Is there any big news?”
“What is there to discuss? Just resign,” said Teo Nie Ching (Harapan-Kulai).
The unprecedented move came after an uproar among lawmakers after Istana Negara reprimanded the government’s revocation of emergency ordinances without going through proper procedures.
Earlier today, Azalina’s colleague Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who chaired the sitting, adjourned the session to 2.30pm after a 15-minute break. He wanted a break so he could have a discussion on the matter. The sitting was later adjourned to 3.30pm.
This came after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (Harapan-Port Dickson) brought up today’s statement by Istana Negara in the Dewan Rakyat shortly after it was released.
The palace posted a strongly-worded statement on its official Facebook around noon today. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong had expressed that he was “very disappointed” that Parliament was informed on July 26 that the emergency ordinances had been revoked.
The Agong was also “very disappointed” with the conduct of de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan and Attorney-General Idrus Harun and that they had misled the MPs.
After reading out the statement in full, Anwar said the opposition has no choice but to urge Muhyiddin to resign.
It was reported that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is meeting with his cabinet ministers and Attorney-General Idrus Harun this afternoon.
When the sitting resumed at 5.15pm, Rashid said two more Covid-19 cases had been detected, and as such, he postponed the sitting to next Monday (Aug 2).
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