KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat proceeding today was briefly interrupted by questions on Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz’s whereabouts and whether he has resigned from his position.
This is following his absence in the lower house to take part in two key orders of business – the Minister’s Question Time (MQT) and the tabling of four government bills for the first reading.
His absence was first brought up during the MQT session, when he was supposed to respond to queries on debts accrued by the 1Malaysia Development Bhd financial scandal.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-Bersatu) said since the session requires a minister to respond and cannot be answered by a deputy, a written reply of Tengku Zafrul’s response was read by religious minister Datuk Idris Ahmad, triggering chaos in the lower house.
A written reply of the minister’s answer was later provided to the media.
Later on in the sitting, during the government’s motions and bills, Deputy Finance Minister I Mohd Shahar Abdullah (Paya Besar-BN) tabled four bills for the first reading, including a vital Supplementary Supply (2021) Bill 2022.
Datuk Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena-PH) then questioned the minister’s whereabouts and sought confirmation if he had resigned.
“He had said before that if the government allows the one-off Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal, he is willing to step down.
“Yesterday the prime minister made the announcement, so does Tengku Zafrul’s absence today mean he has resigned?”
In an interview with Sinar Premium in January, Tengku Zafrul had said he would rather resign than compromise on decisions that he feels are wrong, including further withdrawal of EPF funds.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, following pressure from his party Umno, announced yesterday that the government had agreed to allow a special further EPF withdrawal of RM10,000 to help those affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Mahfuz said if it is true Tengku Zafrul has relinquished his position, Shahar’s tabling of today’s bills on behalf of the minister would have been invalid, as there was no minister.
Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands-BN), who was temporarily chairing the sitting as deputy speaker, said the Parliament has not been informed of such development yet.
Later, M. Kula Segaran (Ipoh Barat-PH) raised the same question, and urged the speaker to allow Shahar to provide a confirmation.
Despite multiple requests, Ramli remained firm and adamant with his ruling that the deputy minister can table the bill in the absence of a minister.
“Do you want to argue? The way I see it, you are interfering with today’s proceedings.”
Kula Segaran, who was visibly upset by the ruling, said: “It doesn’t make sense that everything is regarded as an interference. I am an MP, I have rights too. What was raised is rational, allow the deputy minister to respond.”
Ramli, however said as a speaker, he is the one with the power to make decisions, dismissing further calls by the DAP lawmaker for an explanation and went on with the proceeding.
He then allowed Shahar to continue tabling the bill. – The Vibes, March 17, 2022
Additional reporting by Ian McIntyre
