Dewan Rakyat sitting begins on Monday, with focus on tabling MP13
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the tabling of MP13 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Minister of Finance, is scheduled to take place in the second week of the Dewan Rakyat sitting on July 31.
MP13, which sets the direction for the country's development for 2026 to 2030, is the first by the MADANI Government under Anwar's administration as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Anwar previously said the MP13 was formulated with a focus on the economic empowerment of the people through increased income, inclusive and sustainable economic structural reforms, as well as strengthening governance and efficiency in public service delivery.
Apart from that, it also emphasises regional justice, human capital development, and policy reforms to strengthen Malaysia's competitiveness at the global level in line with the principles of MADANI Malaysia.
In this regard, Johari said this Dewan Rakyat session would provide adequate debate time for Members of Parliament to discuss the contents of the 13th Malaysia Plan while calling on all elected representatives to be professional and use the debate space well.
'We want the debate (session) to be more substantive and Members of Parliament should not politicise the situation so much that we drift too far.
'Members of Parliament need to stay focused on what issues we are discussing… how (they) can help the government by suggesting things that the government may have overlooked, that is our role,' he told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently.
Based on the Dewan Rakyat calendar, the MP13 debate session will last for eight days starting August 4, before the ministers wind up for four days starting August 18.
This session is also expected to be held in a more lively atmosphere with a comprehensive policy debate, given that it is the main meeting before the focus shifts to the tabling of the 2026 Budget at the scheduled meeting session this October.
Apart from MP13 presentation, Johari said this session is also expected to see the tabling and debate of several important bills involving aspects of institutional reform, government governance, public services and issues related to the welfare of the people.
In accordance with the Parliamentary Services Act 2025 (PSA) which has been approved by the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim, he said efforts and measures to reform Parliament also continue to be implemented and streamlined, especially in strengthening the role of each Special Select Committee of Parliament.
'The participation of the Special Select Committee needs to be expanded because its role is quite significant with its members comprising government and opposition MPs with experience, qualifications and great influence.
'When discussing an issue in the Special Select Committee, we see that it is not in favour of the government or the opposition, rather the decision made is to represent the people as a whole,' he said.
Commenting on the positions of Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in the Dewan Rakyat following their resignations from the Cabinet, Johari said the two leaders would be transferred to the government backbenchers' area.
He said it is a normal practice for any MP who is no longer a member of the administration or the Cabinet to move his seat to the backbenchers' area. — BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Agrofood sector set for major reforms under 13MP
THE 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) has big ideas for the agrofood sector. High time, we say. It has been treated as a stepchild since the country transitioned to manufacturing in the 1980s. That should change by 2030, when the 13MP reforms the sector, leading to RM58 billion in value creation. Self-sufficiency rates are also being scaled up to 80 per cent for rice, 98 per cent for fisheries, 83 per cent for fruits, 79 per cent for vegetables, 140 per cent for poultry, 123 per cent for eggs and 50 per cent for beef and buffalo meat. Ambitious? Yes, given that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has to hit the targets within five years, on top of resolving numerous issues plaguing the agrofood sector. Surely, an unenviable task. Land is a big ticket item, with most of what is available being devoted to industrial crops such as oil palm and rubber, because they are more profitable. In 2020, 7.6 million hectares of arable land was used for agriculture, of which 5.2 million was dedicated to industrial crops. Little wonder, our Asean neighbours' agrofood products are everywhere. Former director of Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Rozhan Abu Dardak, provides another reason why this is so in his article published in the Food and Fertilizer Technology Centre Agricultural Policy Platform website on April 14: Vietnam dedicated 33 million hectares for rice cultivation. Thailand 9.2 million hectares, Indonesia 10.6 million hectares and the Philippines 5.6 million hectares. What about Malaysia? Of the 996,950ha dedicated to the agrofood sector, only 373,383ha is being used to cultivate rice. The rest is used for growing fruits, other food crops and vegetables, the last, a measly 64,220ha to work on. If that is not enough, the agrofood sector has to compete with industries and housing for land. More land for agrofood should certainly be a reform to aim for. There is one reality our policymakers often miss. Malaysia is a land of small things. Like the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that dominate the country's economy, so do small-scale farms. According to Rozhan, more than 90 per cent of Malaysian farmers own small plots of land, averaging 2.5ha per person. Logically, bigger means better yields. But that doesn't mean technology can't be made to work on small plots to increase yields. Like we have learnt to live with SMEs, we must learn to live with small-scale farms. What the agrofood sector reform should focus on are the farms themselves: the what and how of the trade. The skyrocketing prices of farm inputs, too, are making farming a challenging vocation. Farmers need help. Providing subsidies to those who deserve it is one way. The 13MP's move to incentivise young agroentrepreneurs takes the reform to a good place. We are a nation of old farmers, most of whom are in their 60s. At that age, farming is a struggle. Malaysians will be keeping a keen eye on the agrofood sector reforms, because what happens in the farms will determine whether or not we have home-grown food on the table.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Felda to consult PMD on RM100,000 allocation for land scheme villages
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) will consult the Prime Minister's Department to determine the best approach for distributing the RM100,000 allocation to each village in its land schemes, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday. Its chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the move aims to ensure the funds are distributed efficiently and achieve the government's objectives. "We will refer to PMD to establish the appropriate criteria for recipients to ensure that the assistance is properly utilised and achieves the intended goals," he said. He said the allocation would be tailored to the needs of individual villages, some of which have Land Scheme Working Committees (JKTR), cooperatives, or youth councils. Ahmad Shabery said this to reporters after launching the Felda Robo and Novate 2025 programme, themed 'Young Innovators, Global Future,' at the Mega 3D Carnival (MK3D) 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec). Also present was Felda director-general Datuk Dr Suzana Idayu Wati Osman. Yesterday, Anwar announced the RM100,000 allocation for each village under Felda to fund development projects decided by the local residents. This initiative aligns with the Madani government's focus on consultation and empowering the people. Regarding the delisting of FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV) from Bursa Malaysia, Ahmad Shabery said it should not be viewed negatively. He said delisting will allow for a restructuring of the company without being constrained by the regulations governing public companies, ultimately enabling Felda to fully own FGV and run welfare activities for settlers more effectively. Anwar had earlier confirmed that Felda would have control over FGV's direction once the delisting process is completed, which will begin on August 28.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
13MP: Ministry to develop price and supply repository system
PENAMPANG: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will develop a Price and Supply Repository System during the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Its minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, said the system would enable the government to monitor prices and supply comprehensively from producers and wholesalers to retailers and consumers. "With this supply and pricing data chain, the government can monitor more effectively and detect manipulation by middlemen who inflate prices. "The ministry will collaborate with various ministries, including the Economy Ministry and the Finance Ministry," he said. He was speaking to reporters after launching the Madani Nationhood Seminar organised by Akademi Kenegaraan Malaysia (AKM) at the International Technology and Commercial Centre (ITCC) here today. Armizan said the system will not only strengthen the food supply chain but also help detect exactly where price hikes or manipulation occur within the distribution process. At the same time, a study on the factors behind price differences in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan was launched this year. A separate Price Stability Committee has been established for each state. He said that the committee, co-chaired by himself and Sabah Community Development and People's Well-being Minister, Datuk James Ratib, will evaluate five key items in Sabah, including chicken prices. Armizan also said a preliminary report had already been presented by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) for Sabah and Labuan, while Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is conducting the study for Sarawak. "UMS has proposed five essential items that can be addressed in the short term to solve the issue. "We will examine their initial findings before proceeding to the second phase of the study," he said. – Bernama
