KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat has shortened Ministers’ Question Time (MQT) from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, starting tomorrow.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan today proposed that cabinet members be allowed to answer questions without there being supplementary questions.
“I am tabling this motion to cease the enforcement of Regulations 24(5A), 24A(5) and 24A(7), to allow the MQT sessions to be reduced to 10 minutes.
“MPs who raise questions will be called to read them out, and the answers will be given without supplementary questions.
“This will take effect from tomorrow until December 15.”
Teo Nie Ching (PH-Kulai) then asked for the rationale behind this, saying it is better for ministers to provide their answers in writing if MPs are not allowed to put forth supplementary questions.
“If the ministers are only going to read out the answers prepared by the civil service, then that’s only for show.
“It’s better to allow at least one supplementary question. If they are only going to read out the answers, we can do that ourselves.”
In response, Takiyuddin said the opposition, via Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), previously proposed that ministers answer main questions orally in the House.
“We are giving what you (opposition) are asking for.”
After a vote, Takiyuddin’s motion was passed.
On November 5, he announced that the MQT sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which had been allocated 30 minutes, would be cut short to five minutes, with answers to be given via written replies. – The Vibes, November 18, 2020
