KUALA LUMPUR: The first sitting of this year’s Dewan Rakyat session will convene from March 5 to April 5.
A letter sighted by the New Straits Times today, penned by Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah, said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V will officiate the sixth term sitting of the 13th Parliament.
Rosmee had also called on Members of Parliament to submit their questions via email or fax to the Dewan Rakyat secretary's office by February 15 at 5pm.
This announcement eliminates speculation that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will dissolve Parliament right after the Chinese New Year celebration (Feb 16-17), to make way for the 14th General Election (GE14).
Last week, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said he believed that Parliament would be dissolved in April.
Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi had predicted that GE14 will most likely be held on the same date it was held in GE13, which was May 5.
“It wouldn’t be held either in the middle or end of May because that’s the beginning of the fasting month. I expect Parliament will be dissolved soon after the first sitting for Dewan Rakyat concludes.
“Which means, we will be looking at a May 5 general election. This also means, whatever the government has in plan previously, it is moving on track.
“I also believe that the re-delineation process will be approved during this March’s Dewan Rakyat sitting. So, there’s no need for a special Parliament sitting to be held,” he said when contacted.
GE13 took place on Sunday, May 5, 2013.
May 5, 2018 will fall on a Saturday.