THE Dewan Rakyat proceedings were briefly halted after Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin repeatedly defied Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Noor’s ruling, which barred him from posing further supplementary questions.
Hamzah, who stood up to ask a question during the Prime Minister’s Question Time yesterday, was told by Ramli that there was not enough time for more questions from the MPs.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, the Opposition chief whip and Kota Bharu MP, 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 Takiyuddin can make such decisions when he is the Dewan Rakyat Speaker. He continued to refuse to allow Hamzah to proceed.
“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, however, 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 related to 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 to pose his question, Ramli then instructed the sergeant-at-arms to temporarily suspend the sitting for five minutes.
