Question time causes a stir

Minister runs out of time to answer in new six-minute format

A MINISTER created a stir in the House when he said that he would not take a supplementary question from an MP owing to a lack of time.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohammaddin Ketapi, who was replying to a question from the MP, was told by Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon that he had run out of time to reply to an original question raised by June Leow Hsaid Hui (PH-Ulu Selangor).

“The time to answer the question has ended and you may take a supplementary question now,” Mohd Hasnon told the minister.

A bemused Mohammadin said that he still had some time to answer Leow’s question, but said he will wait for her to ask her supplementary question instead.

However, Leow told Mohd Rashid that she wanted Mohammadin to finish his reply, arguing that his response was incomplete.

Mohammadin then said: “If I continue with this (to respond to Leow’s original question), there will be no supplementary question as it will take time.”

His explanation caused a ripple in the House.

A stunned Leow said she would have preferred for Mohammaddin to reply to her supplementary question and accept a written reply from the minister to her original question.

Parliament introduced a new format for Question Time beginning March 11 this year.

Under the new format, ministers or their deputies are given six minutes to answer an MP’s original question including two supplementary questions.

If I continue with this (to respond to Leow’s original question) there will be no supplementary question as it will take time.

Datuk Mohammaddin Ketapi

Several lawmakers had raised concern that their questions would not be answered effectively owing to the six-minute cap.

Under the previous format, some 10 to 15 minutes were allotted for each question.

In her question, Leow asked on efforts to preserve the nation’s heritage and promote Unesco world heritage sites here as tourist attractions.

Mohammadin said 302 sites and monuments were gazetted under the National Heritage Act 2005. Of this, 200 had undergone restoration and conservation work since 2006.

He said there were only four sites recognised as Unesco world heritage sites. They were Taman Negara, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, MelakaGeorge Town and Lenggong Valley archaeological sites.

On Leow’s supplementary question, Mohammadin said that plans are underway to gazette Kuala Kubu Baru town as a national heritage site.

He noted that this must be done first before the town could be considered for recognition as a Unesco world heritage site.