M’sia 12th Parliament term one of longest in history

The 12th Parliament is one of the longest in Malaysian history.

Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, who received the proclamation on the dissolution, said the term of the 12th Parliament was close to five years.

“This declaration means the 12th Parliament term was four years and 11 months.

“This is one of the longest in the history of the Malaysian Parliament,” he said here yesterday.

(The only time elections have been held after a longer duration was when the 1974 polls were held about five years and three months after the 1969 elections. However, due to the riots of 1969, the National Operations Council had taken over the running of the country with the Parliament suspended until 1971.)

Pandikar received the proclamation from Prime Minister Najib Razak in accordance with Article 55 (2) of the Federal Constitution. It was signed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Meanwhile, it was business as usual for Parliament staff who were already in the midst of preparations to welcome a new batch of MPs even before the polling date was set.

“There is no break. We are always ever-ready to receive and start on our jobs again,” said Dewan Rakyat secretary Roosme Hamzah at the Parliament staff day sale yesterday.

The event was planned long before the dissolution.

Roosme said that among others, copies of the amended Standing Orders were being printed, especially for the new members.

Security personnel Rahmah Idrus was happy that Parliament had been dissolved.

“It had been long-awaited. We are looking forward to seeing the new changes that Prime Minister Najib Razak will bring.”