AS the Sabah election nomination day approaches, several ministers, deputy ministers and MPs from the state were absent from the Dewan Rakyat, which led the House to make minor adjustments to the day’s agenda.
During Question Time, the first two MPs scheduled to ask their questions – Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (BN-Libaran) and Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) – were absent, leading proceedings to move directly to the third question.
Suhaimi was slotted to ask the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry on new economic programmes for Sabah youth, particularly in digital economy, agropreneurship and modern fisheries to reduce reliance on low-paying jobs.
Kiandee’s question was directed to the Foreign Ministry about concrete steps taken following Malaysia’s call at the recent Arab-Islamic Summit in Qatar for punitive action against Israel.
Questions related to the National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) and the UPU online system, which were supposed to be answered by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir or his deputy Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, were instead answered by Deputy Unity Minister K. Saraswathy as both Zambry and Mustapha were absent.
Zambry is Barisan Nasional secretary-general while Mustaffa Samad is Sabah PKR chairman.
Under existing parliamentary procedure, ministers or deputy ministers are permitted to respond on behalf of their colleagues from different ministries if the original minister or deputy minister is absent.
The Election Commission has set Nov 15 as nomination day, while polling will be held on Nov 29.
