MEMBERS of parliament have reportedly proposed for Dewan Rakyat sittings to start at 2pm instead of 10am. According to Speaker Johari Abdul, this was to enable the cabinet members to carry out their administrative affairs before attending the sittings.

The MPs also want the parliament session extended to 100-110 days.

The speaker has already agreed to ease the dress code requiring the members of the House to wear a tie.

Johari said a committee would be formed to look into the rest of the proposals. https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/bahasa/s/418673

What about virtual sittings?

Lest we forget, amid a Covid-19 lockdown in June last year, then deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon had declared that parliament had adequate facilities for a hybrid Dewan Rakyat sitting if necessary.

That was quite a statement from the Speaker’s office.

It followed a statement from then Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Takiyuddin Hassan, who said the government was looking into holding hybrid Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara sessions in which MPs could take part physically as well as virtually. https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/319655

Will there be a virtual element to the sittings of the 15th parliament?

A virtual sitting does not require amendments to the Federal Constitution. Article 55(1) of the constitution does not mandate that parliament meets in person.  Article 44 says parliament consists of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat.

Clearly, “parliament” does not refer to the building called Parliament House. It is the collection of members of the two Houses as well as the Agong who may meet in the building or elsewhere as summoned by the king, in person or virtually.

Articles 55(1) and 62(5) do not specify that a sitting of parliament must be physical. And article 62(1) allows parliament to regulate its own procedures while article 63(1) prevents a challenge on the validity of any proceedings in either House in any court.

Since each House is constitutionally mandated to regulate its own procedure and its proceedings are non-justiciable, each may resolve to meet in person or virtually.

The introduction of a virtual element to parliamentary sittings simply requires a resolution of the House.

The United Kingdom’s House of Commons, among others, offers a model of a hybrid sitting.

So, what about remote or hybrid sittings of the Dewan Rakyat, speaker? – December 22, 2022.

* 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.