Debate on Budget 2020 halted due to lack of quorum

THE debate on Budget 2020 was halted due to the lack of quorum.

Steven Choong (PH-Tebrau) was delivering his speech when Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) stood up to interject.

“Based on Standing Order 13, it looks as though there is a lack of quorum in the House and the Speaker should make a ruling,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming said there were MPs around but they were not at their seats.

“Members of Parliament are in the lounge, please enter the House,” Nga said as he ordered the House bell to be rung to alert them.

Under Standing Order 13, there must be at least 26 MPs in the 222-seat House for proceedings to be held.

Later at a press conference, Opposition chief Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob described the incident as a black mark in the Dewan Rakyat’s history.

“If we look at the trend since Monday, even the Deputy Prime Minister had tweeted that she noticed empty chairs when listening to debates.

“On Wednesday, only the Deputy Education Minister was present,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Ismail Sabri, who is Bera MP, said it was disappointing that even Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and his deputy were absent as the debate was on Budget 2020.

“It looks as though the MPs and ministers are not interested in debating.

“I suggest Parliament be dissolved and replaced by new MPs who are interested in taking part in debates,” he added.

On July 23 last year, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed his dissatisfaction over the attendance of his Cabinet members and their deputies in Parliament.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Rashid Hasnon had also reprimanded ministers and deputy ministers of their absence in Parliament.