Where are all the ministers, BN lawmakers ask

PARLIAMENT | Rows of empty seats on the government side of the Dewan Rakyat this evening led to one question from BN lawmakers: Where are all the ministers?

Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) tweeted that both ministers and their deputies left the House by 4pm, one-and-a-half hours before today's sitting ended.

It is understood that the cabinet held a meeting today. However, deputy ministers are not allowed to sit in cabinet meetings.

"They used to ask us, why we were always missing from the Dewan Rakyat.

"Looks like they're not so great. I hope there's a change after this. There needs to be a rotation of who is on duty," the former deputy international trade and industry minister said.

Former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau), meanwhile, tweeted that not a single minister was present when opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi began his debate on the Agong's speech.

However, instead of bashing Putrajaya, Khairy proposed a solution to prevent absenteeism.

"I propose that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad hold cabinet meetings on Fridays when the House is not in session to respect parliamentary proceedings," he said.

This was the practice of the previous government, as Parliament does not convene on Fridays.

[More to follow] - Mkini