All sides hold closed-door meets
Published on: Monday, July 13, 2020
By: Bernama
Muhyiddin
Kuala Lumpur: The leaders of the three main factions – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir – met with their respective loyalists in separate closed door sessions ahead of Monday’s crucial parliement sitting.The first order of the day would see Muhyiddin moving a motion to propose new select committee members including Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim and Gombak MP Mohamed Azmin Ali.
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Muhyiddin will also propose for the seats of Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming to be vacated, and replaced by former Election Commission chairman Azhar Harun and Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said, respectively.
The others proposed as select committee members are Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datuk), Fadillah Yusof (Petra) and Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang).
Anwar
They are expected to replace Muhyiddin, who is the Pagoh MP, Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera), Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Pandan), Mohamad Sabu (Kota Raja), Darell Leiking (Penampang) and Tan Kok Wai (Cheras).
Select committees investigate specific issues or perform specific scrutiny roles.
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Top of the order of business is a motion by Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin requesting Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador to ensure that the road leading to Parliament is clear of any disturbance.
Other Bills expected for debate during the meeting, which will last until Aug 27, include the Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2019, which aims to protect patients’ rights by giving them the option to decide where to fill their prescription.
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The original Bill that allowed doctors to be fined and jailed for refusing to give a prescription at a patient’s request had come under fire by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) as “improper”.
The long-awaited Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill 2019 will also be tabled for second reading. It will be moved by the Prime Minister.
Other issues expected to be debated include those on Covid-19, the state of the economy, the Rohingya, cyber security, discounts on assessment rates, and voter registration for 18-year-olds.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin attended a closed-door briefing with Perikatan Nasional MPs ahead of the Dewan Rakyat meeting.
The two-hour briefing was held at Dewan Seri Endon. When asked about the briefing, Umno president and Bagan Datuk MP Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said those present agreed to support all motions to be tabled by the Prime Minister on Monday (July 13).
“Tomorrow, as we know, there will be a major decision to be made – to replace the existing Speaker with the government’s candidate. So we will give 100pc support to the government’s motion,” he said.
Mahathir
Asked how many attended the briefing, Ahmad Zahid replied; “I didn’t count. But almost 100% (of Perikatan MPs) were present.”
Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who is also Umno secretary-general, said he had been selected to table the motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for the royal address.
“I have been given sufficient time to table and debate (the motion). So I have to prepare to speak for about two hours. It is a challenge for me and I will do my best,” he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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