KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 – The Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara sittings are expected to be resume back at the main Parliament building beginning in April 2017 upon completion of the current upgrading works there. Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said so far, the repair and refurbishment works which were being carried out in six phases have been 30 percent completed.
“The phase involving the main block which houses the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara are expected to be completed in January 2017 and the sitting can be held at the original building beginning April 2017,” he told reporters after checking on the upgrading works at Parliament House here on Tuesday.
Earlier, Fadillah had spent about about an hour visiting the main block of the Parliament building and had been briefed on the upgrading works which were being carried out. He said phase 1 of the upgrading works had been completed while phase 2A and phase 2B involving the refurbishment of the main block and the construction of a new six-storey building would only begin in January next year.
Fadillah explained that delay in completing upgrading works was due to no works being disallowed during the current Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara sessions. He said they do not want to disturb the Parliament session, they are trying to avoid carrying out risky works during the sittings. Meanwhile, the repair and upgrading works of the Parliament building complex started in September 2011 and are expected to be completed by 2020, involving an estimated cost of RM520 million.
