He said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had decided that there was no need for the government to hold a special sitting to table and debate the bill.

In a statement today, Wan Junaidi said that among the factors taken into consideration was the cost involved in a special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, which would amount to about RM1,077,600, excluding operating costs.

Previously, the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) had proposed that the bill be tabled at a one-day special sitting in early July, as opposed to waiting for the scheduled meeting from July 18 to Aug 4.

Wan Junaidi also said many MPs would be on overseas trips until mid-July to take part in programmes organised by Parliament which cannot be delayed as they involve other stakeholders.

“For example, there are two special select committees that will go abroad in early July until mid-July – the special select committee on finance and economy, and the special select committee on security,” he said.

He said the tabling of the bill according to the calendar for the upcoming Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara meetings would give members sufficient time to analyse it before it is debated.

“This cannot be done if a special meeting is held. In addition, if a special meeting is held, it can only be done in mid-July given the absence of many MPs before then,” he said.

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