KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today slammed Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun as being too strict in not allowing interjections to run smoothly.
Anwar (PH-Port Dickson) said he did not agree with the speaker’s action, which was deemed too harsh when Azhar prevented Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin from answering questions from the opposition bench.
“These two minutes are so important. This place is not just for listening but for discussion, for the minister in charge.
“I do not agree with the speaker’s actions that are too harsh, preventing the people’s representatives from raising important issues. Extra minutes is also a problem?”
Earlier, Zuraida, in her Budget 2021 winding-up speech, was addressing the issue of National Community Policy and received some interjections from several opposition MPs.
However, Azhar muted the microphones of the MPs and Zuraida, and informed the House that the time for the winding-up session was over.
Azhar then said the debate session was over and the interjections were only for clarification on certain issues.
“According to the rules of the meeting, interjections are for clarification and not for debate anymore. We have no time.” – The Vibes, November 25, 2020
