PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has submitted a motion to ensure that the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting will debate various issues involving the Emergency Ordinance and the Covid-19 situation.

       "Today (July 12), I have submitted a motion to ensure that the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting will debate the Emergency Ordinance, Covid-19 situation, vaccination rate, testing rates as well as details relating to expenditure and the National Recovery Plan that was announced by the government.

       "This motion was sent to ensure that there is genuine and comprehensive space for debate in the context of parliamentary democracy as well as the rule of law," he tweeted on Monday (July 12).

       Critics have previously voiced concerns that the Dewan Rakyat sitting would merely be a briefing session on the Covid-19 recovery plan without any debates taking place.

       The PKR president submitted the motion to Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin on Monday (July 12).

       The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on July 5 announced that the special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat will convene on July 26 for five days, while Dewan Negara will sit for three days beginning Aug 3.

       PMO said the special meeting would be centred around the National Recovery Plan and amendments to the law to allow a hybrid Parliament meeting to be held.

       The Parliament meeting was previously suspended following the Emergency Declaration by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 12 in light of the surge of Covid-19 cases.