KUALA LUMPUR – Dewan Rakyat proceedings almost came to a halt briefly due to a lack of quorum by MPs.
At about 1.40pm, while Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Minister Ewon Benedict was winding up the Budget 2023 debate for his ministry, Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (Pengkalan Chepa-PN) raised the matter of insufficient quorum.
Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul then called for a quick headcount which showed that only 25 MPs were present. At least 26 lawmakers are required, excluding the chair.
Johari then allowed another two minutes before taking a second headcount.
Shortly after, he announced that an MP had just entered the house to make the quorum.
Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH) then noted that many of the absent MPs were from the opposition.
“The one who called for quorum, his ‘gang’ is not present,” she said, referring to Ahmad Marzuk’s coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Noticeably, only a handful of opposition MPs were indeed present at the Dewan Rakyat for this morning’s session.
Many of them were at Putrajaya today at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s headquarters to show support for PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is still facing questioning there and is likely to be arrested today.
MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki has also confirmed that the former prime minister will be charged tomorrow over alleged graft involving the Jana Wibawa scheme introduced by his administration.
Kok added: “These people want to be in the news. These ustaz are irresponsible”.
Winding up speeches of the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Ministry, followed by the Youth and Sports Ministry (Hannah Yeoh), and Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing) were brief as most of their answers were not read out due to the absence of the MPs who had posed the questions.
The Dewan Rakyat is to vote at the policy stage on the budget this evening, after the winding up by the finance minister. – The Vibes, March 9, 2023
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