KUALA LUMPUR: Parliament adjourned on Thursday without the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease (Amendment) Bill 2024 being put for a vote despite ten MP’s debating it.

The bill was supposed to be read for the secondreading on Thursday (July 18).

After ten MP’s had debated the bill, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul went on to deliver his closing speech, without Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad being called to wind up the debates.

Four bills have been deferred to the next meeting of the Dewan Rakyat which convenes in October. This includes the constitutional amendment bill on citizenship laws.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran told the House that the second and the third reading of the citizenship bill, along with three other bills have been postponed to the next meeting which begins on Oct 14.

The other three bills that were postponed are the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024, Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 (Amendment) and Syariah Court Civil Procedure (Federal Territories) Act 1998 (Amendment) bills.

Although the citizenship bill was on the Dewan Rakyat’s order paper throughout the 15 day-meeting which ends Thursday, it was never brought for the second reading.

The bill to amend the Federal Constitution was supposed to be tabled for the second reading by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on March 27, which was the last day of the previous meeting.

However after Saifuddin delivered his speech, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul then delivered his closing speech and adjourned the meeting without putting the bill for debate.

The bill was tabled for the first reading on March 25.

Johari, in his closing remarks, said the second meeting of the 15th Parliament saw the Dewan Rakyat passing 27 bills.

Johari also said the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2021 and 2022, was passed in the Dewan Rakyat where 49 MPs have debated and 17 ministers and deputy ministers have answered.

The Dewan Rakyat, said Johari, also passed the motion on the Auditor-General’s Report where 53 MPs debated and 14 ministers and their deputies answered.

At the same time, Johari said the briefing sessions by ministers at the Special Chambers had received good responses from backbenchers and Opposition MPs, especially the briefing on the sale of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

“It was attended by about 25 MPs,” said Johari.

Meanwhile, Johari reminded MPs to go for their mandatory medical checkup before Nov 11 this year.

“We hope this medical checkup can help prevent untoward incidents on MPs,” added Johari.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/18/parliament-adjourns-without-prevention-and-control-of-infectious-disease-amendment-bill-vote