Lack of quorum forces temporary halt to Dewan Rakyat proceedings

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat proceedings were temporarily halted due to a lack of quorum in the House.

The incident occurred just after lawmakers were supposed to continue with debates on the Royal Address after the lunch break on Tuesday (Sept 21).

Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) stood up at the start of proceedings to inform Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon that there was a lack of quorum in the House.

Mohd Rashid ordered a head count where it was revealed that there were only 19 lawmakers present.

The Deputy Speaker then ordered the bell to be rung for two minutes to get more lawmakers into the August Hall.

"A count was carried out and there are now 27 lawmakers which is more than the 26 quorum needed to proceed," Mohd Rashid said.

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

This is the first time there had been a lack of quorum in the House since the Parliament meeting began on Sept 13.

There had been previous incidents of a lack of quorum in Dewan Rakyat during the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan administrations.