MPs given 10 extra minutes to get to Dewan for bloc votes

KUALA LUMPUR: MPs have been given an extra 10 minutes to be present in Parliament when bloc votes are called, says Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul.

He said this was because a woman MP tripped and fell while rushing back to the Dewan Rakyat when bloc votes were called.

“I still recall in the previous Parliament meeting, there wasn't enough when the bell rang and a woman MP fell down because she was rushing.

“Taking that into account, I will give 10 minutes. Calm down and walk slowly, don’t panic. Ten minutes is enough time,” said Johari in Parliament on Monday (March 13).

Johari said there would be a two-minute bell, followed by a 10-minute break to allow MPs to be present in the House.

“There will be another two-minute bell for the bloc voting process,” said Johari.

In 2020, Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun also gave a 10-minute recess before bloc votes took place in Parliament.

Azhar said changes were necessary due to the distance between the new MPs and administrative blocks as well as to go through Covid-19 measures implemented in Parliament.

Prior to Azhar’s ruling, the House bell would only be rung for two minutes to alert MPs that a bloc vote would be called.

Under Parliament Standing Order 46(3), a Bill will be put to the House for a voice vote of "ayes" and "noes" at the debates with the results announced by the Speaker.

The results can be challenged by an MP under Parliament's Standing Order 46(4) by calling for a bloc vote, which involves an actual vote count of lawmakers present in the House.

However, for a bloc vote to be triggered, not less than 15 lawmakers must be seen standing in support, failing which the Speaker would announce results of the earlier voice vote.

It is a common practice by the Opposition MPs to call for bloc votes to derail Bills by the government when backbencher MPs are seen absent in the House.