High drama as opposition calls a vote by division
NST (29/5/08): There was high drama in the House yesterday as out of the blue, the opposition suddenly demanded a voting by division for a portion of the Supplementary Supply (2007) Bill 2008.
Seldom is a block vote (when each member should indicate his vote) called during a debate on a supplementary supply bill at the committee stage (when details of allocations are debated).
Such bills are decided by acclamation, or how loud the "ayes" and "nays" are heard by the speaker.
So when Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) demanded a division, backbenchers shifted uneasily as many thought that the PKR was about to unleash a destabilising strike on the government.
At the time, there were only 10 backbenchers in the House.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar reluctantly agreed to Azmin's repeated demand and ordered the bell be rung to summon members into the House.
The opposition ranks swelled within minutes to 60 and the uneasiness intensified among the backbenchers.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz dashed out to the lobby and quickly signalled members to come in.
This prompted ministers, Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and other backbenchers in the lounge to abandon their cuppas.
Some of the ministers were also summoned from the Dewan Negara, which is currently also in session.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi walked briskly from his tower block office while Najib went in just before him.
As the seconds to the vote count ran down, the backbenchers began to relax as they saw Abdullah and Najib walking to their places.
When the vote was taken, the portion under debate was passed 92 to 60.
Backbenchers thumped tables as is the case in the chamber when there is an occasion for joy and sounded hoots of derision towards the opposition.
Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Independent) abstained from voting while Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein failed to vote as he had walked in just as the vote had been concluded.
In the lobby, M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) remarked dryly that "one day we will get lucky".
Azmin who had insisted on the vote proclaimed that it was "a moral victory".
"The House respected our call," he said grinning.
Hishammuddin conceded he had failed to vote but pointed out the BN had the numbers and the opposition was welcome to try the same stunt again.
"We will win.
"We are the majority," he declared obliquely referring to the opposition threat that it would form the government by Malaysia Day on Sept 16.
Nazri said the he did not have a problem with the opposition request to take a vote on the matter.
He said the lack of Barisan MPs in the House earlier would not affect the coalition's image, saying that they were in the vicinity.
Earlier, Azmin had demanded the division after he claimed the "nays" were louder than the "ayes".
He said the portion being considered, RM16.8 billion, which was the contribution to statutory funds, was the largest portion at the committee stage.
Ibrahim said he abstained as he felt the entire process was a waste of time and impractical.
Seldom is a block vote (when each member should indicate his vote) called during a debate on a supplementary supply bill at the committee stage (when details of allocations are debated).
Such bills are decided by acclamation, or how loud the "ayes" and "nays" are heard by the speaker.
So when Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) demanded a division, backbenchers shifted uneasily as many thought that the PKR was about to unleash a destabilising strike on the government.
At the time, there were only 10 backbenchers in the House.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar reluctantly agreed to Azmin's repeated demand and ordered the bell be rung to summon members into the House.
The opposition ranks swelled within minutes to 60 and the uneasiness intensified among the backbenchers.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz dashed out to the lobby and quickly signalled members to come in.
This prompted ministers, Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and other backbenchers in the lounge to abandon their cuppas.
Some of the ministers were also summoned from the Dewan Negara, which is currently also in session.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi walked briskly from his tower block office while Najib went in just before him.
As the seconds to the vote count ran down, the backbenchers began to relax as they saw Abdullah and Najib walking to their places.
When the vote was taken, the portion under debate was passed 92 to 60.
Backbenchers thumped tables as is the case in the chamber when there is an occasion for joy and sounded hoots of derision towards the opposition.
Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Independent) abstained from voting while Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein failed to vote as he had walked in just as the vote had been concluded.
In the lobby, M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) remarked dryly that "one day we will get lucky".
Azmin who had insisted on the vote proclaimed that it was "a moral victory".
"The House respected our call," he said grinning.
Hishammuddin conceded he had failed to vote but pointed out the BN had the numbers and the opposition was welcome to try the same stunt again.
"We will win.
"We are the majority," he declared obliquely referring to the opposition threat that it would form the government by Malaysia Day on Sept 16.
Nazri said the he did not have a problem with the opposition request to take a vote on the matter.
He said the lack of Barisan MPs in the House earlier would not affect the coalition's image, saying that they were in the vicinity.
Earlier, Azmin had demanded the division after he claimed the "nays" were louder than the "ayes".
He said the portion being considered, RM16.8 billion, which was the contribution to statutory funds, was the largest portion at the committee stage.
Ibrahim said he abstained as he felt the entire process was a waste of time and impractical.
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