Pas: MPs who walked out unprofessional

KUALA LUMPUR: Pas has criticised its former allies for staging a walkout during the tabling of the 2017 Budget on Friday.

Pas Youth chief Nik Abduh Nik Aziz slammed Pakatan Harapan lawmakers, describing them as “unprofessional” for walking out midway through Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s budget speech.

“The tabling of the budget is an important day for the country and its people. It is a time and day allocated for the prime minister to present it.

“It is not the right of any lawmaker to disrupt this important speech, even though there are criticisms and satirical remarks made by him towards the opposition,” he said on a Facebook on Friday.

“Members of parliament must be more professional when in Parliament. The Dewan Rakyat speaker has worked hard to improve sittings to ensure that they are honourable and respected.”

Nik Abduh said MPs would have ample time to debate the budget, and hoped parliamentarians would not waste time at the august house with unprofessional behaviour.

“In the end, this would shorten the time and opportunity for other MPs to speak,” he said, adding that Pas had always promoted moderation and urged the people to make changes and improvements in the country in a more harmonious and prosperous manner.

Pas information chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi said although there were aspects of the budget that the party did not agree with, Pas’s approach was to present its views through debates.

“In the Dewan Rakyat Standing Order, if we do not agree with the budget, we can vote against it.

“Our stand is also based on the Parliament Standing Order 41(1)(e), which stipulates that while an MP is speaking, all other MPs shall be silent and shall not interrupt.”