THE absence of three main Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders in the Dewan Rakyat during the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQ) session does not need to be an issue, said PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
“Many people misunderstood the need to be present during the PMQ session every Tuesday,” Malaysiakini reported the Kubang Kerian MP as saying.
According to Tuan Ibrahim, during the PMQ session, not everyone can ask questions (to the prime minister), if PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang is present, he can’t even ask questions.
“Only those who asked the oral question can do so, when the prime minister answers, the same person can ask additional questions and not just anyone can interrupt,” he told a press conference after delivering aid to the needy in Kota Bharu yesterday (April 5).
The former environment and water minister added that the questions are subject to Dewan Rakyat session rules.
Moreover, he also pointed out that the issue of the main opposition leaders not being present in the August House during PMQ should not arise.
“On the contrary, government parliamentarians not attending the session was even more “terrible” (dahsyat), especially when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was not in the House,” added Tuan Ibrahim.
Tuan Ibrahim noted that the PN has more than 70 parliamentarians and that matter (absence of leaders) is just an issue raised to portray the opposition in a bad light.
Last Tuesday (April 4), Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil expressed his disappointment that opposition leaders did not take the opportunity during PMQ to ask Anwar questions.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PN deputy chairman Hadi were among those who did not attend the session on Tuesday.
“This morning, Anwar answered questions about the results of his official visit to China, vaping issues and contract doctor issues. Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof were also present.”
Unfortunately, once again, the opposition leaders Hamzah, Muhyiddin and Hadi were absent and did not ask questions, as Fahmi penned on his social media.
Furthermore, Fahmi added that the opposition’s best chance to confront Anwar and ask questions was during PMQ sessions.
A study of the Dewan Rakyat’s attendance record last year revealed that the three opposition leaders were among those with the lowest attendance between July 26, 2021, and March 23, 2022.
Tuan Ibrahim further stated that the PN had already discussed seat distribution for the coalition in the upcoming state elections.
However, the matter has not been finalised although the process is going smoothly.
“So far, all states have held discussions and have not faced any problems. We are just waiting to make the final decision,” he said. — April 6, 2023
Main photo credit: Harapan Daily
