PETALING JAYA: The highly-anticipated Dewan Rakyat meeting originally slated to start on Sept 6 has been rescheduled to begin a week later on Sept 13.

       A letter to Members of Parliament from Dewan Rakyat secretary Dr Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin stated that the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 14th Parliament would take place for 17 days until Oct 12.

       No reason for the rescheduling was given.

       The earlier date was set by the previous government under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

       He, however, resigned and on Aug 21, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was sworn in as the new Prime Minister.

       The rest of the Cabinet ministers were sworn in on Monday.

       Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun earlier said it was up to the new Prime Minister to decide on the dates of the meeting.

       “It is within the discretion of the Prime Minister as the leader of the House to change the dates of the meeting by advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said when contacted.

       The new schedule also meant that there were two additional days for the meeting, from the initial 15 days.

       According to Azhar, the two extra days will give lawmakers more time to settle all government affairs and motions that were brought forth in the meeting.

       A vote of confidence for Ismail Sabri had been expected during the meeting.