Parliament in chaos when ministry's allocation passed by one vote

KUALA LUMPUR: Chaos ensued in the Dewan Rakyat when Barisan Nasional and Opposition MPs clashed over a ministry’s allocation under Budget 2018 that was passed by just one vote.

It turned out that the bloc vote made it through with 52 MPs voted for it to be passed while 51 voted against the allocation.

The bloc vote at the committee stage was called for by G. Manivanan (PKR - Kapar) just after Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin finished winding-up.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee had allowed for the bloc vote.

The bell was rung for two minutes, a standard process to signal lawmakers to enter the Dewan if they were still on the grounds of Parliament.

However, during the process, some Opposition lawmakers alleged that several Barisan Nasional MPs had entered the Dewan after the bell had finished ringing.

They claimed the voting list had already been handed over to the sergeant-at-arms (Bentara) but it was taken back when a few other MPs were seen entering the Dewan and casting their votes.

The Opposition MPs then kept chanting “tipu, tipu, tipu” (lies, lies, lies) and demanded that no one should walk in once the voting had ended.

The ruckus went on for several minutes with even Barisan MPs urging the other side to sit down.

Kiandee then announced that 51 MPs had voted against the allocation, as opposed to 52 who voted for it to be passed.

The Dewan erupted into another shouting match as Opposition lawmakers asked to review the voting list.

Gobind Singh Deo (DAP - Puchong) said passing by one vote was an abuse of House rules.

“The whole world is watching. Can we review the list? Why is this happening? Why did you have to wait (for those who were late to enter the Dewan)?

“The list was already signed off by you, so why was it adjusted? This is disgraceful,” he said.

A calm Kiandee responded by saying that there was no provision in the Standing Orders to dictate a time frame for MPs to be in the Dewan.

He said that the Standing Order does not prohibit those who entered to cast their votes after the bell had stopped ringing, which indicated the end of the voting process.

“When they walked in, the process was still ongoing. There is no rule that says otherwise,” Kiandee said.

However, the irate Opposition MPs refused to accept the Deputy Speaker’s explanation and demanded that the list be reviewed.

The Dewan, however, continued with the debates for the Works Ministry.

A number of Opposition MPs then walked out of the Dewan, and at a press conference outside, Gobind said there are rules that give effect to the proceedings of the House.

“It is clear that only those present in the Dewan can vote, and the issue is whether the Speaker can wait for latecomers to cast their votes as well,” he said.