The Port Dickson MP said the sitting appeared to be specially created to legitimise the emergency laws, which were earlier panned by the opposition which claimed they were illegal as they had yet to be presented to Parliament as required.

“I feel what is being attempted here is a sham, by shortening the parliamentary session so as to hasten the approval of a few ordinances, especially the emergency laws. There has been no indication of an open debate (being allowed),” the PKR president said in a video uploaded on Facebook.

Anwar said the opposition and the people would not take it lightly if this was the motive for reconvening Parliament. He also put the speaker on notice, saying that matters related to Covid-19, welfare and abuse of power must be allowed to be debated.

“I want to remind the prime minister and the government – at a time when you are topsy-turvy, don’t make use of the speaker to your liking,” he said.

A five-day Dewan Rakyat sitting from July 26 to 29 and on Aug 2 was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office recently. The upper house, the Dewan Negara, will sit for three days from Aug 3 to 5. The last sitting was held on Dec 17.

MPs from both sides of the aisle have issues with the five-day session, with most saying there would not be enough time for debates, especially on matters involving spending and financial policies during the pandemic.