Ministers, deputies told to be in Dewan for budget debates

 

PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said has reminded ministers and deputy ministers that they must be present in the Dewan Rakyat to listen to the ongoing committee stage Supply Bill 2021 debates.

At the end of today's sitting, Azalina said she agreed with RSN Rayer (Pakatan Harapan-Jelutong) who had stood up to question the absence of Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz or his deputies.

"One thing I would like to say before we end, I agree with what Jelutong said earlier, I was observing, either the finance minister or one deputy must be here because this is important and there are not many of us in the Dewan," she said.

This shortly after ejecting Rayer from the chambers for refusing to abide by her earlier orders.

"I would like to reiterate the speaker's reminder, the minister or deputy, please sit in the Dewan when (the budget) debates are ongoing.

"This is a very important issue. I know everyone is busy, but I repeat the speaker's instruction. Please remind our friends and I don't want to say it again, the minister or one deputy minister must be here," she stressed.

Rayer, who was ejected following a war of words with Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing, had earlier this morning also attempted to raise the question to Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun on whether the finance minister or his deputy ministers were required to be present.

He had argued that their presence was necessary in order to ensure that all matters raised by MPs in their budget debates would be noted for further action.

Contrary to Azalina's reminder, Azhar did not issue any instruction to Tengku Zafrul or his deputies and instead had said that the ongoing committee stage debates could be monitored from outside the hall.

"I am not sure why the minister or his deputies are not here. Maybe they are monitoring from outside.

"But there are no provisions that require the minister or deputy minister to be in the hall during (the budget) debates," Azhar had said.  - Mkini