IT is pleasing to note that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof has rejected, based on the law, Semporna MP Mohd Shafie Apdal’s notice of a motion to show Dr Mahathir Mohamad has the support of a majority of lawmakers.

More so, when the law is the highest of the land: the federal constitution.

On that basis, too, shouldn’t the speaker reject the government’s Order of Business for the May 18 parliamentary sitting as being not in line with the Standing Orders (SOs)?

SO 14 states that unless the Dewan Rakyat otherwise directs it, the business of each sitting shall be transacted in the order enumerated therein: (a) – (q). It is called the Order of Business.

The House may proceed to any particular business out of the Order of Business, but this must be by way of a motion. The motion relating to the Order of Business, which is to be moved by a minister, is listed at (n) – item No. 14 – in SO 14. It is preceded by 13 other items, which include minister’s question time (f) and questions to ministers for oral answers (g).

While the motion does not require notice to be given as provided under SO 26(1)(d), it must be passed by the Dewan Rakyat.

Thus, the government’s Order of Business as notified to MPs, with “no oral question sessions, written questions, motions and special chambers”, and only “the presentation of government bills” – item (m) in SO 14 – should be passed by the House after a motion by the minister.

Accordingly, the notice of a one-day sitting of the Dewan Rakyat is premature.

One implores the House to abide by its SOs. – May 7, 2020.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.