Bung Moktar defends Pandikar postponing debate on Act 355

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia postponed the debate and voting on PAS's motion on Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355 to the next sitting because "everyone was tired", said BN Backbencher Council deputy chairperson Bung Moktar Radin.

Bung claimed that Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, lawmakers and parliamentary staff were worn out after a 19-hour long sitting, from 10am on April 6 to 5.05am the next day, and were too tired to carry on with the debate on Act 355.

"Everyone was still sleepy, I only slept for two hours while (the) speaker had not slept. Everyone was tired, that's why (the) debate (was) postponed," he added.

Pakatan Harapan had rapped Pandikar for allegedly playing a "political game" by allowing Hadi's motion to be tabled in Parliament but deferred the debate and voting process to the next sitting, which would commence on July 24.

"So, this is not a political drama. The motion will be debated in July and there is nothing wrong to postpone the debate to July. This is an important bill, not a sandiwara (drama)," Bung said.

"Why can't the opposition wait until the next Parliament sitting in July?

"I sent a WhatsApp message to the speaker to tell him I want to debate. But he said we have to wait until the tabling and secondment (of motion on Act 355). He said, 'I want to see the situation of my staff'," he added.

Meanwhile, Bung also denied that Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had told BN MPs that Hadi's motion would not be debated this sitting.

"He said the bill would not affect Sabah and Sarawak. That's all," he added.

Bung said he personally supported Hadi's motion.

On another question, the Umno supreme council member from Sabah said he had no idea when Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would call the next general election.

"He doesn't want to share (with us)," he said, responding to PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli who predicted Najib would call an election before the next Parliament sitting as he had run out of cards on Act 355.- Mkini