Chitchat The New Malaysia is as Tidak Apa as the Old Malaysia

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat was forced to adjourn temporarily because of a lack of quorum.

Speaker Datuk Mohamad Arrif Md Yusof ordered the House to stand down after Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB-Kapit) noted that there was a lack of quorum for proceedings to continue.

"There are no ministers or deputy ministers in the House, so can we proceed as there is a lack of quorum?" he said when the House resumed at 2.30pm on Tuesday (July 24) after the lunch break.

Mohamad Ariff took note of Linggi's observation and adjourned proceedings.

He ordered the Dewan Rakyat bell to be rung for two minutes to allow lawmakers to enter the hall.

Proceedings resumed after Mohamad Ariff announced there were 35 lawmakers present in the hall.

Under Standing Order 13, there must be at least 26 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan to allow proceedings to be held.

On Monday (July 23), Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed his dissatisfaction over the attendance of his Cabinet members and their deputies in Parliament.

He said ministers and deputy ministers should improve on their attendance records in the Dewan Rakyat, or have proper excuses if they cannot make it.

Last week, Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) had questioned why the Government's front bench was empty during the motion of thanks on the Royal Address.

"Not even a single Cabinet Minister in the Dewan Rakyat to listen to the Opposition leader's speech," the Rembau MP had tweeted.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nati...enough-mps-in-attendance/#01g6JjZdHphwsKIe.99

 

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KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) has expressed dissatisfaction over the attendance record of his Cabinet members and their deputies in the Dewan Rakyat.

However, the Prime Minister said that he would not be imposing any key performance indicators (KPIs) on the matter.

“I am never satisfied with anything but ministers and deputy ministers should improve on their attendance records in the Dewan Rakyat and have proper excuses for not coming for sittings,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday.

Asked if he was satisfied with his own performance, Dr Mahathir said that he was already “stretching it”.

“I am already stretching my time as much as possible, I am working 24 hours a day.

“If you can find me more time in a day, 36 (hours), perhaps I will work for 36,” quipped the 93-year-old.

Last week, Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) had questioned why the government's front bench was empty during the motion of thanks on the Royal Address.

“Not even a single Cabinet Minister in the Dewan Rakyat to listen to the Opposition leader's speech,” the Rembau MP had tweeted.

Dr Mahathir said there would be no KPIs on attendance as he understood that ministers and their deputies have other duties to attend to.

“Parliaments sits for almost the whole day and for 20 days. If they can work during that time, it’s impractical.

“We need them to attend to bureaucratic work as well,” he added.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nati...binets-attendance-record/#l8Rcrvibmz5dB4W7.99