KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat proceedings were briefly halted Tuesday (March 3) morning after Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin repeatedly defied Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Noor’s ruling barring him from posing further supplementary questions.
Hamzah, who stood up during Prime Minister’s Question Time, was told by Ramli that there was not enough time for more questions from the MPs.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) challenged the Deputy Speaker’s ruling, stating that such questions could be permitted at the latter’s discretion.
"The Deputy Speaker can use his discretion under Standing Order 43 to allow the supplementary question to be asked or not. This is the Opposition Leader," he said.
Ramli, however, overruled the suggestion and said that Takiyuddin would be able to make such decisions when he becomes the Speaker.
He continued refusing to allow Hamzah to proceed with his supplementary question.
"I do not allow it. I understand that YB Larut (Hamzah) is the Opposition Leader. I have made my decision and YB, please sit down," he said.
Hamzah refused to sit down and insisted that he wanted to obtain information from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was replying to a question about the alleged attempt to overthrow the government.
"The Speaker’s role is to ensure that the House fosters cooperation, not to show off authority," he said.
As Hamzah continued to try and pose his question, Ramli then instructed the sergeant-at-arms to suspend the sitting for five minutes.
