PM Anwar Urges Unity Government MPs to Debate Constructively in Parliament

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 18: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reminded Members of Parliament from the Unity Government that they carry a responsibility to participate actively and engage in constructive debates during the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament, which begins tomorrow.

Government MADANI spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the message was delivered by the prime minister during a briefing session earlier today.

“The Prime Minister conveyed a clear reminder for us to stay focused on our duties. In general, he emphasized that as Members of Parliament, our responsibility is not only to attend sittings but also to debate properly and constructively,” Fahmi said when contacted by reporters.

Fahmi, who is also the Communications Minister, said the briefing session, which lasted about two hours and began at 2.30 pm, also served as a platform to strengthen ties among Unity Government Members of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara ahead of the parliamentary sitting.

He further confirmed that four bills (RUU) have been identified as key priorities for the government in the upcoming session. These include a bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years or two full terms, a bill on the separation of powers between the public prosecutor and the attorney general, the Ombudsman Bill 2025, and a bill related to the Freedom of Information Act.

Earlier, the Prime Minister left the Seri Perdana Complex at 4.20 pm after chairing the briefing and took time to greet members of the media who were gathered there to obtain the latest updates.

The First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament will officially commence tomorrow with the royal address by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim at the opening ceremony.

According to the parliamentary calendar published on Parliament’s official website, in addition to the tabling of the motion of thanks and the debate on the Royal Address, the Dewan Rakyat sitting scheduled to run for 20 days will include seven days of debate beginning Jan 20.

The parliamentary session will then proceed with the question-and-answer segment from Feb 4 to Feb 10, followed by the tabling of bills and other government business from Feb 11 until March 3.