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KUALA LUMPUR: Several legislators have expressed their discontent at not being able to intervene and seek clarification from ministers during the ministerial closing of the 2021 Budget.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had urged Dewan Rakyat’s chairman, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun, to be a bit flexible in allowing MPs to pose their questions while ministers present their answers in the House on the points raised. during discussions.
“Please remember that the House is a place for debate, not just to hear the explanation from the ministers, but if the Speaker is so adamant and doesn’t even allow a few extra minutes to give the minister room to speak and clarify, then this will not it is right.
“I am opposed to the Spokesman’s attitude in preventing Members from raising important and controversial issues.
“Please give ministers a chance to clarify and allow parliamentarians to step in and seek clarification,” Anwar said.
To this, Azhar, who was chairing the process, said that the debate time of the parliamentarians had ended and that it was fair to give the ministers the opportunity to respond to the points raised by the legislators.
“I understand what YB Port Dickson (Anwar) is saying, but you must understand that the debates are over, the ministers must have time. If the minister allows the deputy to intervene, then it can be done, if not, nothing can be done.
“The ministers have listened to the debates of the deputies,” Azhar said.
However, Anwar asked to disagree, saying that ministers were willing to allow MPs to intervene, but that it was the Speaker who wanted to keep time.
“Spokesperson, you say you understand, but even when the ministers allow the deputies to ask, you do not allow them and that is not right,” Anwar said visibly upset.
Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad (PH-Kuala Selangor) also intervened, saying that not all MPs had the opportunity to debate.
“Parliamentarians can only seek clarification when ministers respond, not everyone had the opportunity to debate, it is necessary to consider that too, President,” said Dr. Dzulkefly.
Each ministry is allotted 20 minutes to respond in order to adhere to the Covid-19 preventive SOP, which had limited the time for procedures until 2 p.m.
However, earlier in the day, the Minister of the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, had tabled a motion to extend the Wednesday (November 25) session until 3pm.
A total of 80 lawmakers had participated in the Budget 2021 debates at the policy stage and 27 ministries responded.
As of now, there are nine more ministries left to finish their responses on Thursday (Nov 26).
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