KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition bloc again protested in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 25) over what it claims is the continued exclusion of its questions from the Ministers’ Question Time (MQT) schedule.
Perikatan Nasional chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan complained saying that the opposition submitted four questions on Nov 20 but none were listed.
For today’s MQT session, he said three current issue questions were sent in, including on protests against Malaysia in Bangkok and flood threats in Padang Terap and Setiu, but these too were omitted.
“We sent four questions on Nov 20. Previously, the Speaker said they did not match the criteria, so none went up.
“Today, we submitted three questions on current issues. So what’s the story?” he said before the session began.
Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul responded that he had a full list of questions from both government and opposition MPs, and stressed that Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (PN-Tanjong Karang) remained part of the opposition bench.
“I will give opportunities to everyone as far as possible, but fundamentally it must be fair. So, for that reason, Tanjong Karang is still in opposition,” Johari said.
Takiyuddin, who is the Kota Bharu MP, urged Johari not to deny the rights of the 68 opposition lawmakers, adding that last week Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (PN-Gua Musang), one of six opposition MPs who declared support for the government, was allowed to pose an MQT question.
“It’s fine to give them space, but don’t deny us entirely. If Tanjong Karang asks a question, we cannot ask follow-up questions,” he said.
Johari assured that equal opportunities would be given, adding that the six MPs who support the government had previously received fewer MQT slots.
“In the past, they rarely got questions. I usually gave them to the majority opposition.
“Now, for fairness, I give some to them because they are still in opposition,” he said.
On Nov 11, the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT) saw a brief commotion after several MPs claimed that questions from the opposition bloc had not been selected for three consecutive weeks.
Johari later said that upon review, all questions submitted by the opposition had already been answered previously, dismissing allegations that he favoured government backbenchers.
