KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat postponed its proceedings for five minutes this afternoon due to a lack of quorum.
The bell signalling the beginning of the afternoon session rang at 2.30pm. Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali (Independent-Bagan Serai) was just about to resume his debate on the royal address when Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB-Kapit) stood up and asked Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof on whether there were enough MPs in the hall to meet the quorum.
“Is the quorum enough?” asked Alexander without saying how many MPs were absent.
Taking a long glance around Parliament again, Ariff then announced that the session was postponed for 10 minutes.
During the short recess, Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) remarked that “The PM (Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) had already raised this earlier”.
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir has expressed his disapproval with the poor attendance record of ministers and deputy ministers in Dewan Rakyat proceedings.
However, the 10-minute break was eventually reduced to five minutes when the bell, given a lenghty ringing period, saw straggler MPs shuffle into the hall.
Arif eventually announced that there were 35 MPs in the hall, which meant that proceedings could continue.
There are a total of 222 Members of Parliament.