A ROUTINE question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat turned tense when opposition MPs protested the absence of both the Health Minister and his deputy when it was the ministry’s turn to answer questions.
The issue arose when Deputy Speaker Alice Lau called on Zahir Hassan (PH-Wangsa Maju) to ask the third question listed for the Health Ministry, but informed the House that neither Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad nor his deputy Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib was present.
Zahir sought permission to raise his question when either minister arrived, but Lau rejected the request and moved on to the next question.
Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) then stood up, describing the absence as disrespectful to the House and fellow MPs who had prepared to ask questions.
Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor) also asked that the absence of both ministers be officially recorded before Lau directed him to proceed with his question for Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin.
In a statement yesterday, the Health Ministry attributed Hanifah’s absence to a sudden change in the order of questions without prior notification from the Dewan Rakyat secretary.
“This delay caused the order of proceedings to move abruptly to the third question. The sudden change without any prior notification from the Dewan Rakyat secretary was the main reason the Deputy Health Minister could not enter the House on time,” it said.
The ministry said Hanifah had already arrived at Parliament and was holding final discussions with ministry officials outside the chamber in preparation to answer Zahir’s question.
