PM to have word with MPs over poor parliament attendance

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be speaking with members of Parliament over their attendance at the Dewan Rakyat, after yesterday’s session was delayed due to a lack of quorum in the House.

Criticising the behaviour of the lawmakers, he said they did not appear serious in serving the public, despite clamouring to contest in elections.

“This is the second time they (MPs) don’t attend. “We have to talk to the MPs because they were anxious to be candidates in the election, but after being elected, they are not behaving as if they are serious about serving the people,” he said during a press conference today.

The premier and Langkawi MP was speaking to reporters after launching the Employees Provident Fund’s (EPF) International Social Well-Being Conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Yesterday, the start of the Dewan Rakyat session was delayed after only 24 MPs were present when the opening bell rang, two shy of the 26-MP quorum.

It was only resumed after 28 MPs were present when the second summoning bell was rung for three minutes.

This was not the first time Dewan Rakyat did not have a quorum to proceed. In Oct, the evening session was briefly suspended for the same reason.

Prior to that, attendance of lawmakers had also been criticised during the debates on Budget 2020.

When asked whether the absence of the MPs could be construed to be intentional, as a means of rebellion against Mahathir (above), the latter advised lawmakers to speak openly if they had criticism.

“There are many other ways to express their views. If they don't like me, they can say so openly. I am subject to criticism... if you are a leader, you are expected to be criticised,” he said.

On whether the lack of attendance will factor in his decision on a reshuffle, Mahathir merely replied: “That is up to me.”

Mahathir’s leadership recently came under scrutiny following the ruling Pakatan Harapan's crushing defeat at the Tanjung Piai by-election in Johor.

In the Nov 16 polls, Harapan lost the seat, previously held by the late deputy minister Dr Farid Md Rafik’s. Bersatu’s Karmaine Sardini lost to BN’s Wee Jeck Seng of MCA, the former two-time Tanjung Piai MP, by over a whopping 15,000 votes.

This led to calls by several quarters, even within Harapan, for the 94-year-old premier to step down or hasten the transition of power to PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir yesterday said he was mulling a cabinet reshuffle following the defeat. - Mkini