KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun told opposition MPs today that he also wants ministers to answer all their questions but it is not within his powers to force them to do so.
His response came after a heated argument, lasting almost 45 minutes, in the Dewan Rakyat, with MPs demanding that he issue a ruling compelling national unity minister Halimah Sadique to reply on the alleged misuse of funds in the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) agency under her ministry.
Yesterday, RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) had asked if MIC leaders were involved in the scandal, to which Halimah said she could not reply as the matter was being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Today, Azhar told the floor: “I, too, want all questions to be answered. There is no justification for ministers to not reply to questions.
“They need to be answered, but I don’t have the power to force them to answer.”
Azhar said his powers were limited to ensuring that there was compliance with procedures in the House.
However, he pointed out that he told several ministers to reply to all questions previously.
Today’s heated exchange started when Rayer raised Standing Order 36 (2), saying that Halimah had failed to answer his question on those involved in the alleged misuse of Mitra funds.
He said he had tabled a motion to debate the issue but it was rejected, and was told to submit an appeal.
“How will MPs get their answers on Mitra funds meant for the poor?
“Isn’t this setting a precedent where every minister could answer the same way on issues concerning corruption and misuse of funds?” he asked.
Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) also asked Azhar to stop allowing ministers not to answer questions as “setting such precedents could confuse the Dewan Rakyat”.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had also previously said the Dewan Rakyat would be setting a dangerous precedent if ministers were allowed to “get away with evading questions”, especially on corruption and misuse of funds, including on the 5G rollout and the Pandora Papers leak.
Azhar had earlier tried to explain that Halimah could not reply Rayer’s question as MACC was still investigating the individuals arrested last month over the Mitra issue.
However, Khalid Samad (PH-Shah Alam) said Halimah could have just elaborated on the progress of the MACC investigations, “and also who is involved, as it is an issue of great public interest”. - FMT
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