Budget 2020 debate temporarily halted as Parliament lacked quorum

KUALA LUMPUR: Proceedings to debate Budget 2020 in Parliament were halted temporarily when there was a lack of quorum in the House.

Proceedings were temporarily halted after Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) stood up to interject Steven Choong Shiau Yoon (PH-Terbau), who was debating the budget.

"Base on Standing Order 13, it looks as though there is a lack of quorum in the House and the Speaker should make a ruling," said Bung.

He said that there were MPs in Parliament but they were not at their seats.

"Those MPs who are in the lounge please enter the House," Nga said when ordering the House bell to be rung to alert MPs outside to come in.

Under Standing Order 13, there must be at least 26 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan to allow 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 in light of the recent trend of MPs absent during debates.

"If we look at the trend since Monday (Oct 14), even the Deputy Prime Minister had tweeted that she noticed empty chairs when listening to debates.

"On Wednesday (Oct 16), only the Deputy Education Minister was present and even the Finance Minister and his deputy were absent," he told reporters on Thursday (Oct 17), while adding that it was disappointing as the current debates were on crucial matters regarding Budget 2020.

"Today, it has reached the stage where they had to stop proceedings and ring the bell as there were fewer than 26 MPs in the House.

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

"I suggest Parliament be dissolved and is replaced by new MPs who are more interested in taking part in debates," the Bera MP 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.

Three days later, Deputy Speaker Datuk Rashid Hasnon reprimanded ministers and deputy ministers over their absence in Parliament.

On Oct 26 last year, Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Arrif Md Yusof ordered the House to stand down after Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB-Kapit) noted that there was a lack of quorum.