History to be made with 90 first-timers

KUALA LUMPUR: A record-breaking 90 first-time members of parliament (MPs) will take their oaths in the Dewan Rakyat on July 16.

Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah confirmed this during a special briefing for the MPs here yesterday.

“There are 90 new MPs and 11 MPs who are making a comeback.”

“It’s a very different landscape, comprising very senior and also very young people. We have P. Prabakaran, who is a student. The difference is vast,” she said.

Roosme said history would be made when the 14th Parliament convenes next month.

This is the first time in the nation’s Parliamentary history that Barisan Nasional had failed to form the government after its defeat in the 14th General Election.

It is also Pakatan Harapan’s first time in the government benches of the Dewan Rakyat.

She said Dewan Rakyat’s initial proceedings on July 16 will kickoff with the election and oathtaking ceremony of the Lower House’s Speaker. This would be followed by the oath-taking of the MPs.

On the appointment of the Dewan Rakyat speaker, Roosme said the Parliament should receive the candidate’s nomination 14 days before the swearing-in ceremony.

It is learnt that the motion on the appointment of a speaker from the government has yet to be received. The deadline is expected to be next Monday.

Roosme declined to confirm the date. She, however, affirmed that the house rules dictate that the first order of business before is a motion on the appointment of the speaker.

“That’s the first order, only then the speaker takes over to ensure the rest take their oath.

“After the rest of members take their oaths, a motion for the appointment of the two deputy speakers should follow suit.”

Roosme said the seating arrangements could be determined once the full cabinet is sworn in.

She said no nomination had been received for the post of the opposition leader in the lower house.

On today’s briefing, she said the briefing was to enlighten MPs with house rules, such as dress codes and how to ask questions.

She also briefed them on the different stages of the legislation process.

The 14th Parliament’s opening ceremony and speech by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V will be on July 17.

The first session of the Dewan Rakyat in the 14th Parliament will be for 20 days.