MPs want budget debate to go past 2pm, 80 limit rule waived

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun said he will look into requests for more time and more MPs to be present when ministerial reply time starts today.

Today, four ministries will be replying on the 2021 budget – the Prime Minister’s Department, the international trade and industry ministry, the defence ministry and the works ministry.

Each ministry is only given 20 minutes compared with almost one hour previously.

“I will review your request,” Azhar said after several opposition MPs also requested to remove the 80 MPs limit imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson) was the first to make the request, saying the Dewan Rakyat is a place to debate during the ministerial reply time, with more MPs present and more time given for the replies.

This was supported by Xavier Jayakumar (PH-Kuala Langat) and Johari Abdul (PH-Sungai Petani).

Mukhriz Mahathir (Ind-Jerlun) then requested the Dewan Rakyat sitting to be extended beyond 2pm as only four ministries are allowed to reply today.

“Tomorrow, another seven ministries. And on Thursday, the finance ministry will be replying,” he said, adding that there may not be enough time to debate on the budget.

Mukhriz argued that in previous years, the Dewan Rakyat sitting continued until the wee hours of the morning, “sometimes until 2am”, to debate on the budget.

He urged the speaker to consider his request. However, Azhar said the nation is facing a Covid-19 pandemic and measures need to be put in place for safety reasons.

He said he will discuss the issue with party whips. –Free Malaysia Today