KUALA LUMPUR: The second reading of the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (amendment) Bill 2017 was postponed for 10 minutes due to the absence of a minister or deputy minister to support the motion.
The bill was read by Domestice Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism deputy minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong and the “pause” created a light moment at the Dewan Rakyat.
After several opposition members of parliament stood up to question the situation, deputy speaker Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed postponed the session.
G Manivannan (PKR- Kapar) said it was a "Hari ini dalam sejarah” (historic) moment for the Parliament.
"Maybe he needs to use the restroom, so we give him some time," Ismail quipped.
Ten minutes later, Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan, who was believed to be in the Special Chambers for his absence in the House, appeared to second the bill.