PARLIAMENT | Anwar busy with rulers this week; MCA's 290km run for elephant ends

PARLIAMENT SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in Parliament today, with updates at 11.30am, 2.30pm, and 6pm.

Editor’s note: There will be no 2.30pm and 6pm updates for today’s Parliament Snapshot.

11.30am

No Anwar this week

• Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul today said that questions from MPs directed at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the first week of this session will instead be answered by the relevant ministers in charge.

  In his opening address, Johari said Anwar, who has made it a custom to attend Parliament for Minister Question Time on Tuesdays or Thursdays, will be absent this week.

  “This is because the prime minister will be attending a Rulers Council pre-council meeting, and subsequently attend the Rulers Council meeting this week,” said Johari.

  

Elephants in Japan

• MCA Youth secretary Neow Choo Seong ended his six-day 290km run from Taiping to the Parliament building today, the first day of the current Dewan Rakyat session.

  The run, which began on June 17, aims to pressure lawmakers to discuss the welfare of the three Malaysian elephants housed at Japan’s Tennoji Zoo.

  

  Arriving at 10am, Neow handed over a memorandum to MCA president Wee Ka Siong, listing demands, including a call for the government to facilitate the return of the elephants.

  At least three supporters were seen holding up a full-body-sized elephant placard, while others representing environmental groups held up signs demanding justice for the mammals.

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COMMENT | Is it Anwar's last hurrah?