IT is pathetic to see former Bersatu information chief and Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to defend the indefensible to justify the absence of the top Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders from the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT) yesterday (April 4).
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has made a valid point when he criticised the top three PN leaders for their absence in Parliament during the PMQT yesterday.
Can the three top PN leaders – the two PN Prime Ministers (PM)-designate Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin – explain why they played “truant” from their parliamentary duties yesterday when PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim answered questions about the outcome of the official visit to China, the vape issue and the contract doctors’ issue?
In defending the absence of the three opposition leaders, Wan Saiful said improvements must be made to the PMQT, including on questions that can be asked.
He said that during PMQT, only the MP called by the speaker can stand to ask a question. The rest will not be allowed to interject.
Wan Saiful is not giving a true picture of the parliamentary proceeding. In fact, he was trying to distract the issue.
If any one of the three Opposition leaders had stood up to ask a supplementary question – whether during PMQT or the parliamentary question time – the Speaker would have give him priority over other backbenchers by virtue of his seniority and position.
Since the PMQT was introduced on Feb 14, there had been eight PMQTs, and a check with the Hansard will show that never in any of the eight PMQTs since Feb 14 had any of the three PN leaders tried to pose a single supplementary question.
Is there anyone among the three leaders who could claim that he tried to ask the PM during PMQT and was not allowed by the Speaker?
Can any of the three PN leaders say that he had tried to put in a question during the eight PMQTs?
If not, can the three PN leaders explain why they were playing truant from their parliamentary duties during the eight PMQTs in the last three months? – April 5, 2023
Retired DAP supremo and former Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang, 81, has a colourful political career spanning 57 years.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
