KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon has ignored multiple calls from opposition lawmakers to allow a motion to debate the rising cost of basic goods in the lower House, provoking their ire.
Rashid insisted that the matter – which is to be answered by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) – will only be raised in the special chamber, as had been decided by Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun.
Calls to include the finance minister, economy minister, and agriculture and food industries minister in the special chamber’s debate were also rejected.
The issue first surfaced after Rashid ruled that a motion by Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai-PH) to debate the exorbitant prices of goods, is to be brought to the special chamber at 2.30pm today.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH) said the matter at hand is very pressing and would require the participation of all MPs, as well as involve various ministries – hence, it needs to be debated in the lower House.
“This needs an immediate solution. B40 families are no longer buying vegetables, and have stopped eating chickens. Don’t draw the anger of the people. If the issue is only raised in the special chamber, I don’t think it fulfils today’s needs and demands.”
Rashid responded that the decision has been fixed by Azhar, maintaining that the debate will carry on as usual in the chamber this evening.
When pressed if the speaker’s office will also call in the other related ministers, Rashid said this is up to KPDNHEP Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, and that he would not allow the matter to be raised in the lower House as he needs to stick to the order of business.
Several opposition MPs put in their argument that the issue must be deliberated by more than just KPDNHEP, with Anwar again demanding for a ruling to summon the finance, economy, and agriculture ministers to the special chamber.
At this point, Linggi stood up and said he had already responded to the issue on Tuesday, and that if the matter is raised once more in the special chamber, he would only repeat his answers.
Anwar replied: “Even the minister has said he will repeat his explanation. That is why we must involve the other ministers. This is pressing. If this is not a national crisis, then I don’t know what is. Do we wait until there is an armed attack?”
In response, Rashid said the original motion filed by Salahuddin only mentioned KPDNHEP, and said the speaker’s decision on the matter is final, despite multiple efforts to make him change his mind.
He then carried on with today’s proceeding of continuing the debate on Budget 2022.
In protest, Anwar – who was supposed to lead the opposition’s debate on budget allocation for the Rural Development Ministry – refused to do so, and instead spent a few minutes of his time slamming the decision not to have a more proper discussion on the high cost of living.
“Although the debate on rural development is important, it does not supersede the more pressing matter of prices of goods.
“If I can’t even talk about this, then I think it is better for me to hand over this debate on rural development to my colleagues.
“I would like to stress here that the speaker must be more concerned towards the plight of the rakyat. I went to the ground the past couple of days, and people are finding it hard to survive.
“Don’t wait until there is a huge demonstration. If possible, we are in fact thinking of such a possibility,” he said. – The Vibes, December 2, 2021
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