KUALA LUMPUR: As Sabah’s election nomination day approaches, several MPs from Sabah, ministers and deputy ministers were absent from Parliament, prompting minor adjustments to the day’s agenda.
During Question Time, the first two MPs scheduled to ask questions, Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (Barisan-Libaran) and Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (Perikatan-Beluran), were absent, leading proceedings to move directly to the third question.
Suhaimi was due to ask the Agriculture and Food Security Minister about new economic programmes for Sabah youth, particularly in the digital economy, agropreneurship and modern fisheries, to reduce reliance on low-paying jobs.
Kiandee had intended to ask the Foreign Minister about concrete steps taken following Malaysia’s call at the recent Arab-Islamic Summit in Qatar for punitive action against Israel.
At the same time, questions related to the National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) and the UPU online system, which were to be answered by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry or his deputy Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, were instead addressed by Deputy Unity Minister senator K Saraswathy as both were absent from Parliament.
Zambry is Barisan secretary-general while Mustapha is the Sabah PKR chairman.
Under existing parliamentary procedure, other ministers or deputy ministers may respond on behalf of their colleagues if the minister or deputy minister is absent.
The Election Commission has set Nov 15 as nomination day, with polling to be held on Nov 29. About 1.7 million Sabahans are eligible to vote.
Major political parties have begun announcing their candidates for the state polls.
