PARLIAMENT | In what appears to be an unprecedented move, parliamentarians have skipped their lunch break for three consecutive days since Tuesday.
It seems that this move was an effort to keep to the schedule for debates on the re-tabled Budget 2023.
The lunch break for Parliament is usually set for one and a half hours, between 1pm and 2.30pm.
Tuesday was the last day for lawmakers to debate on the Supply Bill while the next two days were reserved for ministers’ winding-up speeches on the debates.
A total of 167 MPs participated in the policy-level debates on the budget over six days.
On Wednesday, 14 ministries presented their winding-up speeches while the remaining 12 ministries are expected to wrap up today.
Due to the tight schedule, each minister was given a 30-minute limit to present their winding-up speeches.
However, some of the ministries were given extra time due to interruptions from lawmakers seeking clarifications or adding to their debates.
Elephant interruption
In another departure from the convention today, Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Ramli Mohd Nor who was chairing the sitting, cut in during Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s winding-up speech to ask him a question.
“This may be unconventional but I request that you answer this.
“When an elephant enters a village, many things are destroyed and the livelihood of the Orang Asli is affected.
“What actions will the ministry take to reimburse or compensate the victims?” asked the Cameron Highlands MP, who is of the Semai tribe.
Nik Nazmi replied that his ministry is discussing the possibility of giving consolation aid to those affected by wild elephants entering their village, rather than full reimbursement. - Mkini
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