KUALA LUMPUR: Block voting was carried out in the Dewan Rakyat for the first time to allow part of the Supplementary Supply Bill 2007 to be passed after several Opposition members noted the lack of quorum in the House.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar called for block voting at about 11.45am on Wednesday when the debate on the contribution to the statutory funds of the Supplementary Supply (2007) Bill 2008 was about to be passed after it had reached the end of the committee stage during the debate.
Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang) and Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) stood up to complain that the sound of “ayes” and “nays” sounded similar.
Mohd Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) then suggested that a vote be made as to whether the bill was to be passed.
Wan Junaidi then ruled that a minimum of 15 MPs were needed to stand to support the move for a division of votes, at which point more than 20 Opposition MPs stood up.
The bell rung for two minutes, signalling Barisan Nasional MPs outside to enter the House, and a counting of votes was then called.
The final tally was 92 “ayes”, 60 “nays” and one abstention.
Did you find this article insightful?
