KUALA LUMPUR – Top opposition leaders have failed to participate in any of the eight Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT) sessions in the Dewan Rakyat throughout this whole sitting, which has gone on since February 13.
The PMQT session today, which marks the final day of the current Parliament’s meeting, again ended without participation from Perikatan Nasional (PN) bigwigs, namely opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-PN), PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh-PN) and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang-PN).
On social media, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai-PH) slammed the MPs for their repeated absences when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) addressed questions posed by politicians from both sides of the divide.
“This morning, (Anwar) took questions on his recent official trip to China as well as issues surrounding vape and contract doctors.
“(Deputy prime ministers) Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datuk-BN) and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Petra Jaya-GPS) were also present alongside (Anwar).
“Unfortunately, opposition leaders again did not raise questions or even attend the session,” Fahmi said in a Facebook post.
The post, which featured a picture of then empty opposition seats in Parliament, called out opposition leader Hamzah, PN chairman Muhyiddin, and PAS president Hadi.
Noting that PMQT is held every Tuesday, Fahmi pointed out that the opportunity could have been used by the opposition to ask questions and confront the prime minister.
Fahmi’s fellow PKR colleague Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru-PH) also chided the opposition for their no-shows at today’s parliamentary proceedings.
Di UK - Prime Minister Question Time PMQT adalah medan PM vs Ketua Pembangkang. ?
— SimTzeTzin 沈志勤 ?? (@simtzetzin) April 4, 2023
Di Malaysia - Ketua Pembangkang @dhzhamzah @MuhyiddinYassin @abdulhadiawang hilang 7 kali berturut-turut. ?? pic.twitter.com/F0F9R5BbRA
Drawing comparisons to the PMQT session in the United Kingdom Parliament, Sim took to Twitter to express his disappointment at Muhyiddin, Hamzah and Hadi's absence.
“In the UK, PMQT is the field where the prime minister goes against the opposition leader. In Malaysia, opposition leaders have disappeared.” – The Vibes, April 4, 2023
