Before adjourning yesterday’s sitting at 11pm, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul congratulated the MPs for “debating well and conscientiously” and advised them to be present for the ministers’ question time beginning today.

Fifteen ministries will answer the MPs’ questions today, and 13 tomorrow. Budget 2023 is expected to be tabled on Friday.

Earlier yesterday, the issue of housing, especially affordable housing among youths, was the focus of the debate session.

Tan Hong Pin (PH-Bakri) said the people, especially youths, faced difficulties to own homes as their prices were beyond their means.

“There is a mismatch, if house prices are at RM300,000, that means an individual’s monthly income (to afford a house) must be around RM8,000, with an annual income of RM98,000, but do our youths have monthly incomes of RM8,000?” he said.

Riduan Rubin (Ind-Tenom) said supply and demand for houses was unbalanced. “In Sabah, for instance, the demand for affordable housing is 4,500 units, but what’s offered by the federal government in the state is only 400 units,” he said.

Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo) proposed that housing projects such as those under PR1MA Corporation Malaysia (PR1MA) and village expansion schemes be extended to Sarawak.