NEW changes are being implemented in Parliament with ministers reading out their answers during Minister Question Time (MQT) in Dewan Rakyat instead of replying with written replies.

Under the temporary changes put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, the ministers will take three questions from lawmakers for a total of 10 minutes every Tuesday and Thursday, said de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru-PAS) in Dewan Rakyat today.

“An MP will read out the question and the relevant minister will reply in Dewan Rakyat.

“But there will be no supplementary questions,” said Takiyuddin as he tabled two motions to suspend two Parliament Standing Orders to allow this to take place.

Currently, Standing Order 24A states that the duration for each question, posed to the minister, is for 10 minutes, and that supplementary questions are allowed.

MPs are allowed to ask the government on any policy matters during the MQT, and are only required to adhere to a one-day’s notice for the questions to be posed to the government.

Unlike for the MQT, lawmakers are however required to submit their questions for the daily Question-and-Answer session before the start of the Parliament sitting.

Perikatan Nasional has restricted this Parliament sitting’s Q&A and MQT because of Covid-19 concerns. It has also shortened the daily meetings by two hours.

Before the motions were passed, Teo Nie Ching (Kulai-PH) questioned the rationale behind the new ruling.

“Why do we need the minister to come and read out prepared answers? We can read the answers when they are published anyway.

“What we really want is to be allowed to pose supplementary questions,” said Teo.

But Takiyuddin stood his ground and said the government will not accommodate more requests on this. – November 18, 2020.