THE 80-MP limit for Dewan Rakyat will not be enforced in next week’s meeting, sources told The Malaysian Insight.

“The matter was discussed at the house committee yesterday and everyone agreed that all the 220 MPs will be allowed to attend the Dewan Rakyat special meeting next week,” said a source privy to the matter.

According to the source, only one MP had asked to clarify the matter with director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah before agreeing.

“But since Dr Noor Hisham did not object to letting all the MPs attend Dewan Rakyat, the matter was decided and there were no questions raised about limiting the number of MPs to 80,” said the source. 

The matter has been verified with more than half a dozen opposition MPs. 

The house committee is chaired by speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and has six MPs nominated by the committee of selection.  

The house committee advises the speaker on matters relating to conveniences, services and privileges of the MPs. 

The current house committee is represented by Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah-PN), Shahidan Kassim (Arau-BN), Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (Kuala Krai-PN), Tiong King Sing (Bintulu-GPS), Alice Lau (Lanang-PH) and Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (Lumut-PH).

The 80-MP limit issue was brought up last week when deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-PN) said Parliament planned to bring back the limit in this year’s Dewan Rakyat meetings.

Parliament had introduced the 80-MP limit during last November’s meeting in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections. 

Under the ruling, the government was allowed to have 41 MPs to the opposition’s 39 at any time in the Dewan Rakyat, although all will be allowed in if there was voting. 

The other changes introduced were restricting the question-and-answer sessions with the government and ministers, cutting the meeting time from five and a half hours to four and reducing the total number of hours for Dewan Rakyat from 89 to 66 during the third meeting of 2020. 

Dewan Rakyat will meet for the first time this year on Monday after an absence of eight months. The special five-day meeting, however, will not see any debates or motions as the proper meeting will only begin on September 6. – July 24, 2021.