KUALA LUMPUR – The ruling Perikatan Nasional pact scored two victories in the Dewan Rakyat today – winning the bloc voting for Budget 2021 allocations for the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD) and the Finance Ministry.
The bloc vote for PMD saw 20 absent MPs and the Finance Ministry vote had 17 absentees.
Notably, all eight Warisan lawmakers were absent in both votes. They were Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Semporna), Datuk Rozman Isli (Labuan), Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud), Datuk Azis Jamman (Sepanggar), Datuk Darell Leiking (Penampang), Ahmad Hassan (Papar), Datuk Mohammadin Ketapi (Lahad Datu), and Ma’Mun Sulaiman (Kalabakan).
Meanwhile, the government’s bench was missing Datuk Seri Najib Razak (BN-Pekan), Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datuk), Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (BN-Gua Musang), Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem (GPS-Serian), Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan (Sabah Star-Keningau) and Willie Mongin (Bersatu-Puncak Borneo).
On the opposite aisle, absent MPs were Datuk Christina Liew (PH-Tawau), Awang Husaini Sahari (PH-Putatan), Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Tanjong), Datuk Masir Kujat (PSB-Sri Aman), Datuk Shahruddin Salleh (Independent-Sri Gading) and Michael Teo (PH-Miri).
Teo and Kitingan were said to have voted once. According to Malaysiakini, Teo made it for the second vote that concerned allocations for the Finance Ministry.
A source from Parliament told The Vibes that Dr Lee Boon Chye (PH-Gopeng) was absent for the second vote.
Earlier, when the Dewan Rakyat went through with a voice vote over allocations for the PMD worth RM6.9 billion, Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun ruled that the vote was indecisive.
When more than 15 MPs stood up, Azhar allowed a bloc vote that saw the government side winning 105 votes against 95, with 20 absentees.
Later, another vote concerning an RM21 billion allocation for the Finance Ministry saw 107 votes in favour with 95 opposing, and 17 lawmakers absent. – The Vibes, November 30, 2020
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