KUALA LUMPUR: A record breaking 90 first time Members of Parliament will take their oath 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 who are new kids on the block and 11 MPs who have made a comeback.”
“It’s a very different landscape we have comprising very senior and very young people.”
“We have P. Prabhakaran who is a student. The difference is vast,” she said.
Roosme also said additional records and history had also been created when the 14th Parliament convenes next month.
This is the first time in the nation’s Parliamentary history that the Barisan Nasional had failed to form the government in parliament after its defeat in the 14th General Election.
It is also Pakatan Harapan’s first time presence in the government benches of the Dewan Rakyat.
She said that the Dewan Rakyat’s initial proceedings on July 16 will kick-off with the election and oath taking ceremony of the Lower House’s Speaker.
This would be followed by the oath taking of the MPs in the 222 strong Dewan Rakyat.
On the appointment of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Roosme said the Parliament should receive the candidate’s nomination 14 days before the swearing in.
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.
Asked to confirm the date, Roosme declined to do so.
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,” she added.
Roosme also said that the seating arrangements can only be determined once the full cabinet is sworn in.
“This is to determine who the ministers and senior party members(including party whips). The seats will also be arranged to place the opposition,” she added.
Roosme also said that no nomination has 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 dress codes and how to ask questions.
Roosme also briefed them on the different stages of the legislation process.
She also said the they had received a few questions from MPs and the deadline to submit questions was June 29.
The 14th Parliament’s opening ceremony and speech by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong - Sultan Muhammad V will be on July 17
The 1st Session, 1st Meeting of the Dewan Rakyat in the 14th Parliament will be for 20 days.