From cross-border haze to MP funding formulas and school discipline, here is what MPs raised in the second week of the Budget 2027 debate in the Dewan Rakyat.
KUALA LUMPUR: The policy-level debate on the Supply (Budget) Bill 2027 concluded yesterday after eight days, involving 149 Members of Parliament, with the final debater, Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat), delivering his arguments.
Before adjourning this week’s sitting, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul announced that the winding-up sessions by ministers will run from Oct 26 to 29.
Cross-border haze, the mechanism for allocating funds to MPs, student discipline and school safety were among the issues that dominated the second week of debate on the Bill.
Various development matters, the government’s efforts to strengthen governance, national border security controls, health, and the Myanmar refugee issue were also raised.
Most debaters emphasised effective action to address the haze, with Kalam Salan (PN-Sabak Bernam) drawing the spotlight when he openly conveyed a message to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Javanese, urging the country to resolve the problem.
The Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Health, chaired by Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai), sent a memorandum on the cross-border haze issue to the Indonesian Embassy on Wednesday.
The issue of allocations to MPs also drew attention, with Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) proposing legislation to guarantee distribution based on a formula proportionate to voters and residents, regardless of political affiliation, while Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) proposed a Parliamentary Constituency Development Allocation Act.
Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (BN-Jempol) supported the Education Ministry’s drastic measures to conduct safety audits, increase the number of counselling teachers and warden assistants, and expand school disciplinary powers to address student discipline and safety issues.
Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh) raised welfare issues, proposing that the government establish a dedicated master plan to address poverty in urban and semi-urban areas within five years through an integrated, multi-ministry approach.
Newlywed Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar) also drew attention when he proposed that the government consider granting income tax exemptions as an incentive to individuals who employ dedicated helpers to care for ailing parents at home.
During the Minister’s Question Time session on Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the MADANI Government had inherited a system lacking in transparency, causing various corporate crimes and market manipulation that had long gone unaddressed.
He said the Anti-Money Laundering Crime Investigation Team at Bukit Aman had frozen RM4.3 billion in funds and seized RM1 billion linked to such criminal activities between late 2022 and September 2026.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the government was finalising the Government-Owned Entities Bill, with the target of tabling and passing it in the Dewan Rakyat this year.
The Bill seeks to tighten regulation, governance and financial management of government bodies and agencies.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, during the Minister’s Question Time session yesterday, responded to the issue of the ban on the Waze navigation app among civil servants and said the government was strengthening the local TuJu app.
Meanwhile, the Dewan Rakyat sitting was never short of commotion.
On Monday, a war of words broke out following the use of the term munafik (hypocrite) by Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), with RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) claiming it appeared to be directed at the Prime Minister.
Consequently, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker advised MPs to be more careful in using terms that could spark controversy.
Then on Wednesday, he ordered Takiyuddin to retract the word or allow Rayer to proceed with his motion should the Kota Bharu MP fail to comply.
The week’s sitting also saw the first reading of the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons (Amendment) Bill 2026 on Wednesday.
The Dewan Rakyat sitting runs for 37 days until Dec 8.