KUALA LUMPUR: Lawmakers are expected to be in Parliament until 10pm on Monday (Sept 18) to debate the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Ramli Mohd Nor told the Dewan Rakyat that this "overtime" was a possibility, and each MP would now be given seven minutes to debate instead of the usual 10 for the remainder of the six-day special meeting.
Party chiefs would be given 10 minutes to debate, Ramli added on Thursday (Sept 14) in reply to Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) who asked if longer sessions could be considered.
"I will raise this during my meeting with the Speaker.
“If agreed, we will set proceedings to carry on past 7.30pm. I have been made to understand that the Dewan Rakyat will most probably carry on till 10pm on Monday.
“For the time being, we will do what has been decided,” he added.
Prior to this, Mohd Ramli said 71 MPs were set to debate in the lower House on Thursday, with each lawmaker having seven minutes.
“We don’t have an option (to extend debate allotment) as there are (only) three days left.
“I request all debaters to respect the time. We will try to reduce it where we can,” he said.
The ongoing six-day special meeting from Sept 11 to 19 was called to table and debate the mid-term review.
