Lawyer: Dewan Rakyat Speaker can accept or reject call to postpone sitting
PUCHONG: Suaram’s legal expert Amir Abd Hadi said that postponing the Dewan Rakyat sitting from March 9 to May 18 goes against the House Standing Orders.
Speaking to The Leaders Online, he said that under Order 11 (3), the prime minister is required to give a minimum 28 days notice to Dewan Rakyat Speaker before postponing a Dewan Rakyat session.
However, Amir conceded that it depends on Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohd Ariff Md Yusof whether he wants to enforce it or otherwise.
“If the Speaker decides to enforce Order 11(3), he can do so”, he said.
Earlier, Ariff announced that he was postponing the Dewan Rakyat session, scheduled for March 9, to May 18 upon the request of newly-minted prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Speculating about the latest move, Amir said that Muhyiddin was possibly buying time in order to cement his majority support from MPs to thwart Pakatan Harapan’s plan to push for a no-confidence vote against him.
However, Amir conceded by saying, “Pakatan may not be able to oust Muhyiddin as Perikatan Nasional would definitely replace Ariff and his two deputies on the first day of sitting, as the trio are Pakatan’s appointees.”
By Hema Subramaniam
