Parliament Convenes Again Today

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New select committee members among motions to be proposed by MuhyiddinPETALING JAYA: The start of the Dewan Rakyat today will see Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) move a motion to propose the appointments of new select committee members, including Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Gombak MP Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.According to the Parliament Order Paper, at the top of the government agenda is a motion by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin requesting the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador, to ensure the road leading to Parliament is clear of any disturbance
The Prime Minister will also propose for the Speaker, Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, and Deputy Speaker, Nga Kor Ming, to be vacated and replaced by former Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said respectively
Azhar, popularly known as Art Harun, resigned as EC chairman effective June 29
The opposition bloc has stressed that they will reject the motion to change the Speaker and Nga
Others proposed as select committee members are Hamzah from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia who is also the Larut MP, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datuk), Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (GPS-Petra) and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang).They are expected to replace Muhyiddin, who is the Pagoh MP, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Pandan), Mohamad Sabu (Amanah-Kota Raja), Darell Leiking (Warisan-Penampang) and Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras)
Select committees investigate specific issues or perform specific scrutiny roles
Other Bills expected for debate during this meeting, which will last until Aug 27, include amendments to Section 41 to 45 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (or Act 333) to address cases of driving under the influence
Others include the Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2019, which aims to protect patients’ rights by giving them the option to decide where to fill their prescription
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 as “improper”
The Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill 2019 will also be tabled for second reading
Other issues expected to be debated include temporary measures to mitigate the impact of Covid-19, the state of the economy, the Rohingya issue, cybersecurity, discounts on assessment rates and voter registration for 18-year-olds
Currently, only lawmakers and Parliament officers are allowed to enter the Dewan Rakyat while media personnel and related civil servants are only allowed in the Parliament building. - Star

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