Can the special sitting on July 26 be deemed the reconvening of Parliament? In the true sense of “reconvene”?

Let’s take a closer look at the Prime Minister’s Office statement issued Monday July 5 that got quite a number of people excited.

Can’t blame them though. After all, the government was seen as still dragging its feet and dilly dally to reopen Parliament despite calls (thrice to be exact) by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that Parliament must reconvene “as soon as possible” before August 1. (Parliament and state assemblies were suspended when emergency was declared in January. Emergency is set to end August 1).

The Agong’s latest call for Parliament to reconvene was made on June 29 following an audience with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Harun, Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim and their respective deputies.

Hence, when the PMO came up with their statement six days later, it created excitement with some folks viewing it as an announcement of the reconvening of Parliament.

So, will Parliament finally reconvene come July 26?

As said earlier, let’s have a relook at the PMO’s three-paragraph statement.

Paragraph one said: “The government has agreed to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that a Special Third Parliamentary Proceeding of the 14th Term will be held for five days from July 26 to July 29 and August 2 for the Dewan Rakyat, and three days from August 3 to 5 for Dewan Negara.”

Never mind the duration for the sitting which is too short for any meaningful parliamentary session. The statement spoke of a” Special Parliamentary proceeding, or sitting if you like. And what is the objective of the Special Sitting?

According to the second paragraph of the PMO statement: The Special Sitting will be for the purpose of explaining to members about the National Recovery Plan and amend all laws and regulations to allow for a hybrid proceeding to be held.”

As I see it, the key phrase is: “Amend all laws and regulations to allow for a hybrid proceeding to be held”.

The government has all along said in the event parliamentary session is to be held, it will be a hybrid proceeding.

Based on what is said in the PMO statement, this government is going ahead with the hybrid plan. At least that’s the impression given.

The question is when?

Looking at the PMO statement again, the Special Sitting as from July 26 is “only” to amend laws and regulations pertaining to the hybrid parliamentary session, meaning the few days allocated would just be to amend laws.

Maybe, just maybe, a time frame or the exact dates of the hybrid session would be decided at the Special Siting. That’s a big maybe, though.

This could very well be a clever play of words to drag the issue. Dilly dally that is!

Amending laws for the hybrid session apart, the Special Sitting as stated in the PMO statement is also to explain to MPs the National Recovery Plan.

Already opposition MPs are expressing concern the Special Sitting may turn out to be a mere government briefing session. As it stands, it certainly looks that way, I must say.

The PMO statement also said: “Based on Clause (3) Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, all emergency proclamations and ordinances declared by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be laid before both Houses in Parliament.”

As it is, there is no mention whether questions can be raised, debates can be held, what more voting to take place.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is quoted by Malaysiakini as saying, “What’s the point of reconvening Parliament without debates and voting, only to hear the government give a ceramah?”

Sim Tze Tzin, MP for Bayan Baru, also raised similar concerns.

He was quoted by the same news portal saying, “From the PMO statement, MPS are increasingly concerned that Parliamentary Sitting will become just a briefing session. No questions, no debates.”

Both he and Syed Saddiq (and other MPS surely) have plenty to raise in Parliament, i.e. issues of the rakyat – from vaccines to loan moratorium. MCO, SOPs, economy and a lot more.

Will they get the chance to do that in Parliament anytime soon?

Other than the PMO statement, the government has not come up to give details. Without clarity, I’ll say it again, It is looking very much like a dilly dally.

Ilham Center director of operations Mohd Azlan Zainal concurs: “Despite the Agong’s decree, the government is still looking at ways to delay the process. Appearing to be doing their utmost best to use legal provision as if manipulating the space allowed by the Constitution.”

And he went on to say: “It’s a shrewd way to delay parliamentary sitting. The PM and government continue to buy time to remain in power.”

I would like to add by asking: How much time can it buy? For how long can the delay be?

(Mohsin Abdullah is a veteran journalist and now a freelancer who writes about this, that and everything else.)