Cabinet meeting may switch to Friday during parliamentary session

The near-empty government benches in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday drew derisive comments from the opposition.

Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR: The weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday may be switched to Friday when Parliament is in session, following criticism on the absence of ministers and deputy ministers in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, says Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We are looking in this direction,” he told reporters today.

The Dewan Rakyat sits from Monday to Thursday when in session.

The near-empty government benches in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday drew derisive comments from opposition MPs.

Umno’s Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan questioned the action of the ministers and deputy ministers in leaving the House by 4pm while the sitting was scheduled to end only at 5.30pm.

In a Twitter message, he pointed out that Pakatan Harapan (PH) had, when it was in the opposition, criticised Barisan Nasional ministers for absenting themselves from the Dewan Rakyat.

“It seems they (PH) are no better. Hope there is a change after this. Need to take turn to be on duty,” he wrote.

On another matter, Mahathir acknowledged PH might not be able to fulfil all the 10 promises in its election manifesto that it pledged to implement within its first 100 days in government as some of them required more time.

“Something that involves laws will take time. True, we did promise 100 days, but that is to keep the promises in our minds.

“There are things that need more than 100 days (to implement), such as providing RM50 each to housewives. This will depend on the financial status of the country,” he said. - FMT