Action over floods being taken, speaker says as session ends

The 15th Parliament convened again today for the second and last time this year.

On the agenda was a mini budget to keep the government running.

Thank you for following the live updates brought to you by Malaysiakini.

Action over floods being taken, speaker says as session ends

11.30am: Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) says the emergency motion he submitted yesterday to debate the floods on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia has been rejected by the speaker due to insufficient time.

He points out Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last year submitted a similar emergency motion as opposition leader over the floods that struck various parts of Malaysia last December.

“Even though it was not debated in the Dewan Rakyat, the speaker (at the time) used his discretion and allowed the issue to be debated at least in the special chambers,” Saddiq says, adding that he hopes the current speaker will decide the same.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul (above) says action over the flooding issue “has been taken, is being taken, and will be taken”.

Shahidan Kassim (Independent-Arau) then stands up to lodge a complaint about his party’s designation in the Dewan Rakyat.

“It says (onscreen) that I am independent, Arau. I am PAS from Perikatan Nasional (PN),” he says, eliciting laughter from everyone.

Johari promises to inform the Parliament secretariat to make the necessary changes.

Following that, M Kula Segaran (Pakatan Harapan-Ipoh Barat) praises Johari for announcing that it is not necessary for lawmakers to wear a tie to the sitting today.

“I hope this can be considered by the speaker (to allow no ties) for the coming sessions,” Kula says.

He adds that this is already being practised in several other countries in the region. Johari says he will consider the matter.

With that, Johari closes this session of Parliament and bids the lawmakers safe travels.

Motion to finance mini budget

11.15am: Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan tables a motion to transfer RM35.05 billion from funds raised by government sukuk issuances and treasury bills to the Development Fund.

This includes RM3.21 billion of balance proceeding from the Malaysia Islamic Treasury Bills (MITB).

A further RM31.83 billion channelled into the Development Fund will come from the balance of proceeds from the Malaysian Government Investment Issue (MGII).

This is to offset funds the government is taking to finance the mini budget.

Ahmad also tabled a motion to transfer RM16.2 billion from MGII proceeds into the government’s Covid-19 fund.

Both motions pass with a voice vote.

Mini budget passes without much debate

11.05am: The Dewan Rakyat passes the mini budget, without any debates or clarifications.

Speaker Johari Abdul earlier said lawmakers can debate the motion, but they cannot touch upon policy matters and should only focus on the specific details of the funds.

Opposition MPs try to convince the speaker to allow them to debate more freely but several government lawmakers, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, explain there is no need for such a thorough debate on policies.

This is because, they argue, the mini budget only covers civil service emoluments and funding for urgent existing projects, which have already been debated previously.

Eventually, Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) quips they have absolute confidence in Anwar and suggests the motion be approved unanimously.

Johari proceeds with the vote and the mini budget successfully passes with a voice vote.

Tussle over money for govt contracts

10.50am: Shahidan Kassim (Independent-Arau) says he agrees with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that direct negotiations should no longer be practised for government contracts.

However, he points out that this could negatively affect urgent matters such as those involving relief or mitigation of natural disasters.

Anwar chastises Shahidan and tells him to listen properly as he earlier answered Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) that funds would be approved immediately in the event of emergencies.

He then quips that he would not allow practices that resulted in a RM500 million flood mitigation project in the Federal Territories.

Shahidan, who is the former federal territories minister, takes personal offence and defends his actions, saying it is not wrong for him to approve money to buy things like water pumps and so on for flood mitigation.

“If you want to throw accusations, we can fight right now… I can dig up many things too,” Shahidan says.

Anwar ignores his tirade and clarifies he believes money can be saved in the long run even in flood mitigation projects, using methods such as limited tenders.

Special aid to public in January, PM announces

10.45am: Anwar gets back on track with the mini budget, and announces the government will continue giving cash aid to the public.

The aid - which notably doesn't have a special name - will be disbursed in January and benefit nine million recipients.

Anwar says “all households” will receive RM300, while singles will receive RM100.

It is unclear which income groups will be receiving the aid.

The prime minister also announces RM150 in early school aid will be given to all students next year, regardless of their parents' income level.

He says the government will also be creating 50,000 contract jobs for youths, including 35,000 in GLCs through the MyStep programme. The jobs will offer salaries between RM1,500 and RM2,100.

Meanwhile, the prime minister also agreed to continue with the previous government's proposal to raise civil servant salaries Grade 56 and below by RM100.

Special cash aid of RM700 will also be given to civil servants, while pensioners will get RM350.

Anwar raises PN’s gambling funds accusation

10.40am: On Anwar's previous allegation that PN's election funds partly came from gambling funds, the prime minister clarifies that this is not related to PAS.

"However. (PAS') allied party was in government then too," he remarks - in likely reference to Bersatu.

Awang Solahudin Hashim (PN-Pendang) then points out the decision to raise special draws from 8 to 22 under PN was made by the finance minister at the time, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, without taking it to the cabinet.

Anwar retorts that the cabinet must have collective responsibility.

Tengku Zafrul is currently the internationalt trade and industry minister in Anwar's government.

PM: No contracts without tender, no repeat of abuses

10.35am: Anwar says his government will never award contracts without a tender.

He says he does not want a repeat of abuses under the Muhyiddin Yassin federal administration during the Covid-19 emergency - in relation to alleged misconduct involving RM600 billion.

However, Anwar says as the matter of alleged misconduct is under MACC investigation, he will not comment further.

Abd Ghani Ahmad (PN-Jerlun) raises a point of order, saying if the prime minister wants to respond to issues raised in Parliament yesterday, it should have been done then, and not when tabling a bill.

Speaker Johari Abdul, however, rules Anwar has not strayed from the bill.

The prime minister then adds that he is not commenting on the vote of confidence, but about the approval of tenders - which is related to the bill.

Anwar is tabling a bill on the government’s Consolidated Fund, saying it is needed to fund civil service emoluments.

He said it is also needed to enhance the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to tackle the floods on the Peninsular East Coast.

Focus on tackling rising costs

10.30am: Rhetoric about "ketuanan Melayu" (Malay supremacy) failed to improve the lot of the majority of Malays, Anwar says.

He says the government is determined to uplift the poor be they Malays, Sabah and Sarawak bumiputeras, Indians, or Orang Asli.

He adds that the government is also focused on tackling the rising cost of living, which he partly blamed on an over-reliance on "cartels" including for the supply of eggs.

Country must be clean, PM says

10.25am: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim assures he will not spare anyone from being probed for corruption.

He says he informed enforcement agencies that as prime minister, he is adamant that the country must be "clean".

Earlier he quips that if the opposition wants to sing the "Aduh Malaysia" song - which chastises thieves - they must also realise there is a former prime minister and former ministers among them who approved contracts for their children and in-laws.

Anwar says 2018 royal pardon not asked for

10.20am: On the royal pardon he received in 2018 over his sodomy conviction, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he did not ask for the pardon.

Instead, he says the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the time - Kelantan's Sultan Muhammad V - took the initiative to pardon him.

Anwar claimed Sultan Muhammad described his case as a "travesty of justice" during a phone call while he was still in detention at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital.

Anwar tells PN lawmakers in Kelantan they can meet with the monarch themselves to verify this.

PM open to criticism

10.15am: Anwar defends the vote of confidence yesterday, saying it was needed to prove his legitimacy after Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh) questioned it.

He then says he is open to criticism from anyone and will open his ears, even if it is painful to hear.

However, quoting William Shakespeare, the premier says at times criticism is like "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing".

He said one example is remarks by Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin, whom he accused of launching personal attacks against him.

Hamzah yesterday goaded Anwar to sue a European news outlet, which called the premier a "full-blown homosexual" when reporting on his appointment.

‘Don’t become circus’

10.12am: After explaining the need for the Consolidated Fund bill, Anwar takes the opportunity to continue addressing the House.

He first remarks that government MPs have been instructed to behave themselves, and hopes the opposition can do the same.

He says while disagreements can take place, the Dewan Rakyat should not devolve into a circus, adding that Parliament proceedings are widely observed.

PM tables bill for emoluments, to tackle floods

10.09am: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tables a bill on the government’s Consolidated Fund, saying it is needed to fund civil service emoluments.

He adds that it is also needed to enhance the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to tackle the floods on the Peninsular East Coast.

Monkey business

10.07am: Awang Solahudin Hashim (PN-Pendang) raises a point of order, accusing Sany Hamzan (Harapan-Hulu Langat) of insulting him.

Awang Solahudin says he remarked yesterday that the opposition "did not want to be kera (monkey)" in self-reference.

However, Sany then responded by calling the PN lawmaker beruk (monkey). 

Awang Solahudin demanded the remark be retracted.

Speaker Johari Abdul says he did not hear such remarks and will check the Hansard before making a ruling.

Sany's repeated beruk remarks were heard loud and clear on the live telecast yesterday.

Condolences to flood victims

10.05am: Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul extends condolences to flood victims on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) highlights that Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) had submitted an emergency motion to debate the floods.

Johari says he will consider the motion.

Parliament sitting again today

9am: After breezing through a vote of confidence yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will table several motions today to fund government operations.

This is because the government has yet to finalise a new Budget for 2023.

The version tabled by BN in October was never passed as the Parliament was dissolved before it could be debated.

The mini budget to be tabled today appears to have two components.

The first is to take RM107.7 billion from the government's Consolidated Fund, most likely to finance operations.

The second component involves RM55.96 billion from the Development Fund, likely to fund development projects in the interim.

There will not be a session for oral questions today, and it will be all business once the bell rings at 10am.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's royal address, which is typically delivered on the second day of a new Parliament convening, has been postponed to the next Dewan Rakyat session slated for some time early next year.