BERSATU Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who is still under a six-month suspension remains a ‘ferocious lion” even though his voice can just echo outside the Dewan Rakyat.
After being officially barred from following Dewan Rakyat proceedings from the public gallery, the Machang MP appeared at a media conference in the Parliament yesterday (Oct 23) to strongly condemn poor attendance of government representatives in the on-going Budget 2025 debate session.
“That Dewan Rakyat proceedings needed to be postponed due to lack of quorum is a very embarrassing situation which makes the people wonder if the government’s backbenchers are truly sincere to participate in the Budget 2025’s debate,” lamented Wan Fayhsal.
“In fact, during the Opposition’s leader’s debate session (on Monday, Oct 21), there wasn’t even a minister in the august hall … therefore, I wish to harshly condemn such irresponsible behaviour by the government of the day which looks down upon the participation and debate of opposition MPs.”
On Monday (Oct 21), Wan Fayhsal who is also the Perikatan Nasional Youth deputy chief had lamented being treated as “enemy of state” after Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul ordered his banning from the public gallery even though he “quietly sat there as an observer”.
Recall that there have been numerous occasions where Dewan Rakyat proceedings have come to a halt during the 15th Parliament session due to a lack of quorum – the latest being on Monday (Oct 21)
This took place on the evening session after PAS Pengkalan Chepa MP Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said there were only 17 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat during debates on the Supply Bill 2025.
Ahmad Marzuk had stood up to raised Standing Order 13(1) during the Dewan Rakyat session that was chaired temporarily by UMNO Paya Besar MP Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah on invitation.
Under Standing Order 13, there must be at least 26 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat for proceedings to be held.
“When you as the Backbenchers Club chairman was chairing the session, it was supposed to be attended by many backbenchers,” The Star cited the three-term MP (including one term as Bachok MP) as saying. “This is an important debate yet it didn’t have enough quorum.”
Shahar then ordered a headcount and then ordered the bell to be rung for two minutes to call for more MPs in the House.
After two minutes, Shahar said there were only 19 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat, following which Howard Lee (DAP-Ipoh Timur) who was slotted as the final debater was only able to deliver his speech the following day. – Oct 24, 2024
Main image credit: Malaysiakini
