Parliament assigns observers to bloc vote counters

 

PARLIAMENT | In an effort to improve the bloc vote process in Parliament, the Dewan Rakyat has assigned observers to bloc leaders doing the counting.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said each bloc leader will be observed by an MP from the opposing side.

For today's vote, the pairings were:

• Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) observed by Chang Lih Kang (Harapan-Tanjung Malim)
• Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) observed by V Sivakumar (Harapan-Batu Gajah)
• Shabudin Yahaya (PN-Tasek Gelugor) observed by Noor Amin Ahmad (Harapan-Kangar)
• Shahidan Kassim (BN-Arau) observed by Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus (Harapan-Hulu Langat)
• Wong Shu Qi (Harapan-Kluang) observed by Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (PN-Sabak Bernam)
• Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Independent-Muar) observed by Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas)
• Mohd Hatta Ramli (Harapan-Lumut) observed by Salim Sharif (BN-Jempol)
• Nurul Izzah Anwar (Harapan-Permatang Pauh) observed by Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian)
• Johari Abdul (Harapan-Sungai Petani) observed by Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS-Sibuti)

The observers were required to vote first, before shadowing their assigned counters.

The change came after Shabudin mistakenly marked a supporting vote from Nazri Abdul Aziz (BN-Padang Rengas) during a bloc vote on Budget 2021 allocations for the Finance Ministry on Monday, when Nazri was in fact absent.

Shabudin has apologised for the error.

Malaysiakini also noted that there were errors in the Hansard of Monday's vote proceedings, in which Dr Michael Teo (Harapan-Miri) was recorded as being absent during a bloc vote.

Teo had missed the first vote at 2.30pm but was present during the second vote at 4.30pm.

It was possible that the Hansard team had mistaken Teo for another PKR politician, Dr Lee Boon Chye (Harapan-Gopeng), who, according to several witnesses and Lee's aide, did not participate in the second vote.

This was later corrected.

 - Mkini