IT beats me why a prorogue of Parliament has been suggested at this time of the year.

Parliament has to sit for a duration sufficient for it to perform one of its constitutional functions: to make and pass law.

And at this time of the year Parliament usually sits to debate and pass the Supply Bill 2020 aka Budget 2021.

Parliament means both houses – Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

The federal constitution obligates the federal government to cause to be laid before the Dewan Rakyat Budget 2021 before the commencement of the year [Article 99(1)].

This year’s budget – Budget 2020 - was presented on October 11, 2019 and was finally approved without amendments on December 28, 2019.

It received the royal assent on December 30, 2019 and was published in the federal gazette as the Supply Act 2020 on December 31, 2019. Both royal assent and publication in the federal gazette are mandated by the constitution.

With Parliament only to sit on November 2, the federal government is behind time based on last year’s timeline.

Like every budget, Budget 2021 has to be approved by Parliament, assented to by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and finally published in the federal gazette as the Supply Act 2021. This, in turn, authorises the federal government to withdraw moneys from the Consolidated Fund for its expenditure for the year 2021.

Without moneys from the Consolidated Fund, how on earth would the government spend and meet its monetary obligations – like paying the civil servants their monthly salary?

So why the suggestion to prorogue Parliament? – October 18, 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.