Parliament session opens with King’s address, focusing on national development and key bills like PM term limits and institutional reforms.
KUALA LUMPUR: The First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament opens on Monday with the Royal Address by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
His Majesty will deliver the address to open both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara.
The speech is expected to cover national development, public welfare, and economic matters as the 13th Malaysia Plan commences.
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The opening ceremony will be broadcast live from 10 am via official media, television, and online platforms.
Before the address, the King will inspect a Royal Guard of Honour at Parliament Square.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, his deputies, the cabinet, and foreign delegation heads will attend.
The 20-day Dewan Rakyat session includes a Motion of Thanks on the Royal Address.
Debate on this motion will run for seven days starting January 20.
Ministers will wind up the debate in the third week, from February 4 to 10.
Bills and other government business are scheduled for the final six days starting February 23.
Parliament will not sit on February 2 and 3 for Federal Territories Day and Thaipusam.
It will also adjourn from February 16 to 19 for Chinese New Year and early Ramadan.
The Dewan Negara session will run for 13 days starting February 23.
Key legislation expected includes a bill to limit the Prime Minister’s term to 10 years.
A bill separating the powers of the Public Prosecutor and Attorney General is also slated.
Anwar announced these as part of institutional reforms for this parliamentary year.
Other bills include the Ombudsman Bill 2025 and the Freedom of Information Bill.
The session will also focus on the second reading of two bills postponed previously.
These are the International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation Bill 2025 and the Urban Renewal Bill 2025. – Bernama
