Special Dewan Negara meeting to focus on emergency, says president

The special meeting of the Dewan Negara slated for Aug 3 to 5 will focus on the explanation and the tabling of the proclamation of emergency, and not on any unexpected motion.

Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim said any other issues, questions or the right for explanation submitted by senators would be considered based on their relevancy.

“Matters that have been slated for the meeting are the emergency proclamation, emergency ordinances made under the emergency proclamation in accordance with Article 150 (3) of the Federal Constitution, and the tabling of the emergency proclamation (on the Gerik parliamentary by-election in Perak and Bugaya state by-election in Sabah).

“Other matters are the explanations from ministers under the Senate’s Standing Order 13(1)(i) relating to the National Recovery Plan, vaccination programme, implementation of emergency, and economic stimulus packages,” he said in a statement today.

Rais said he was notified by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, as leader of the house, that the special meeting is vital as it is of public interest.

Rais said the notification from Muhyiddin was in accordance with Standing Order 10 (3) of the Senate.

In order to ensure that the special meeting will run smoothly and safely, all anti-Covid-19 SOPs set by the health ministry and the National Security Council will be enforced at all times.

Senate secretary Muhd Sujairi Abdullah will notify all senators of the special meeting soon.