THE earliest a hybrid Parliament can convene is end-August or September, said the heads of Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

In a statement signed by Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim and Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, they said the Parliament office has set up a special steering committee to hold hybrid Parliament proceedings.

“This committee will be chaired by both the Dewan Rakyat speaker and Dewan Negara president and will include the deputy speakers, deputy president and Parliament secretaries,” the statement said.

After studying the technologies and methodologies needed, the committee has suggested that the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara have hybrid proceedings.

“In general, a hybrid meeting will require the physical presence of 26 MPs and 10 senators to fulfil quorum requirements for Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara,” said the statement.

“The rest of the MPs or senators can choose to attend the meetings in person (subject to Covid-19 SOP) or online.”

Following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree on June 16 for Parliament to convene as soon as possible and taking into consideration the prime minister’s powers to decide on the dates for the proceedings, the committee has to ensure that hybrid meetings are ready to be held as soon as possible, it said. 

“Nevertheless, the Parliament office needs some time to prepare the technical capability, procurement, supplies and conduct training for the meetings to take place,” it added.

Rais and Azhar said they have already informed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the matter yesterday.

“The special committee expects all legal issues to be resolved by the end of July and has suggested a special Parliament meeting in early August to make the necessary amendments to the Standing Orders and other issues,” they said.

Given the time needed to amend the Standing Orders, gather MPs’ views and set up the systems, they said the earliest Parliament can hold a hybrid meeting will be at the end of August or first week of September. – June 25, 2021.