Where’s the rest of the Cabinet during Anwar’s debate, asks Nga

 

Anwar Ibrahim debating the 12th Malaysia Plan today. Only five ministers and deputy ministers were in the House during his speech. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Former deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker Nga Kor Ming voiced disappointment over how most of the Cabinet was missing from the lower house when opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was debating the 12th Malaysia Plan.

During Anwar’s speech, Nga (PH-Teluk Intan) pointed out that only five ministers and deputy ministers were present, adding that this was not in line with the government’s aim of achieving parliamentary transformation.

“Our Cabinet is one of the biggest in the world with 69 ministers and deputy ministers. I think it’s important in the aspect of parliamentary transformation that ministers and their deputies should at least be present to listen to the opposition leader’s debate.

“This is part of transforming Parliament, a basic code of ethics, yet it was not complied with. This morning, I feel sad. When the opposition leader is speaking, there are only five individuals from the government bloc.

“Where have the other 60 over ministers and deputy ministers gone?” he asked in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Nga demanded the chief whip of the government bloc to act on the matter, saying this was the practice in parliamentary democracies.

Anwar agreed with Nga’s view, saying he had also stayed in the Dewan Rakyat to listen to the then opposition leader’s speech when Pakatan Harapan was in power.

Two weeks ago, when Anwar was speaking on the health and economic crises, the government bench was also almost empty, leaving M Karupaiya (PH-Padang Serai) to lament that only the chairs were listening. - FMT