Verbal battle in Parliament: Only three questions asked in 90-minute session
NST (30/4/08): The question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat which began its sitting today was disrupted for almost an hour when several members of parliament, particularly from the opposition, raised questions on the meeting procedures.
Following the interruption, the first question on the Order Paper was only asked after 20 minutes the House was in session to be answered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
However, several members of parliament, especially Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) and Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) continued to dispute the meeting procedures, prompting Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to repeatedly ask them to allow the question-and-answer session to go on.
After nearly an hour later, only then the House could proceed with the second question, with Pandikar Amin reminding members of parliament on the importance of the session for the people’s interests.
Only three questions were answered when the one-and-a-half-hour question-and-answer session ended at 11.30am.
The session began with Pandikar Amin proclaiming Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) as the opposition leader.
He said Dr Wan Azizah was unanimously nominated for the post by Pakatan Rakyat.
After the proclammation, wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh continued to dispute procedures governing the swearing-in of members of parliament on Monday.
Pandikar Amin said the swearing-in was over and all members of parliament who were sworn in had been accepted as members of parliament.
“I’ve made the decision and I think the decision is final. It’s legal and that’s my decision,” said Pandikar Amin.
Despite being constantly interrupted by members of parliament, Pandikar Amin, who was sworn in as the Dewan Rakyat speaker on Monday, appealed to them to cooperate for the sitting to proceed smoothly.
Pandikar Amin also asked MPs not to butt in when the speaker was talking and that they should speak only after asking permission from the speaker.
“If all MPs were allowed to speak merely on technical matters, the Dewan Rakyat cannot perform its actual duties effectively.
“If members of this august House did not respect the speaker’s decision, then whoever asked to sit on the speaker’s chair cannot perform the entrusted responsibilities as every MP tried to be adamant,” he said.
Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) asked about the role and influence of a speaker in listing out the oral questions because he claimed the role of the parliamentary opposition leader was not recognised.
“Actually, the opposition leader must be given preference to ask the first question but I find that from the 10 questions listed, only three were allotted for Pakatan Rakyat and seven for Barisan Nasional (BN).
“There are 82 opposition MPs as compared to BN’s 77 backbenchers. I want to propose six questions be given to Pakatan Rakyat and the rest to BN,” he said.
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) then stood up to ask the opposition which Standing Order were they referring to that stipulated that the first question must be given to the parliamentary opposition leader.
Pandikar Amin interjected, saying: “Give a chance to the speaker. I agree with the Kinabatangan member that there was no provision in the Standing Orders on whose questions should be given priority.
“This is a question of convention and that also it’s up to the speaker’s discretion,” he said.
As Razali was about to ask the first question, Karpal again butted in, posing a question on Standing Orders.
Karpal said: “I hope the “bigfoot” from Kinabatangan will not interrupt me. Bigfoot sit down.”
Bung Moktar replied: “Stand up if you dare. If I’m bigfoot, you are big monkey.”
Karpal also questioned the status of Pasir Mas MP Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali, for contesting on a PAS ticket, but was given the seat as an independent in the Dewan Rakyat.
Pandikar Amin said the question on who to sit where was the Dewan Rakyat’s discretion.
Following the interruption, the first question on the Order Paper was only asked after 20 minutes the House was in session to be answered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
However, several members of parliament, especially Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) and Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) continued to dispute the meeting procedures, prompting Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to repeatedly ask them to allow the question-and-answer session to go on.
After nearly an hour later, only then the House could proceed with the second question, with Pandikar Amin reminding members of parliament on the importance of the session for the people’s interests.
Only three questions were answered when the one-and-a-half-hour question-and-answer session ended at 11.30am.
The session began with Pandikar Amin proclaiming Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) as the opposition leader.
He said Dr Wan Azizah was unanimously nominated for the post by Pakatan Rakyat.
After the proclammation, wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh continued to dispute procedures governing the swearing-in of members of parliament on Monday.
Pandikar Amin said the swearing-in was over and all members of parliament who were sworn in had been accepted as members of parliament.
“I’ve made the decision and I think the decision is final. It’s legal and that’s my decision,” said Pandikar Amin.
Despite being constantly interrupted by members of parliament, Pandikar Amin, who was sworn in as the Dewan Rakyat speaker on Monday, appealed to them to cooperate for the sitting to proceed smoothly.
Pandikar Amin also asked MPs not to butt in when the speaker was talking and that they should speak only after asking permission from the speaker.
“If all MPs were allowed to speak merely on technical matters, the Dewan Rakyat cannot perform its actual duties effectively.
“If members of this august House did not respect the speaker’s decision, then whoever asked to sit on the speaker’s chair cannot perform the entrusted responsibilities as every MP tried to be adamant,” he said.
Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) asked about the role and influence of a speaker in listing out the oral questions because he claimed the role of the parliamentary opposition leader was not recognised.
“Actually, the opposition leader must be given preference to ask the first question but I find that from the 10 questions listed, only three were allotted for Pakatan Rakyat and seven for Barisan Nasional (BN).
“There are 82 opposition MPs as compared to BN’s 77 backbenchers. I want to propose six questions be given to Pakatan Rakyat and the rest to BN,” he said.
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) then stood up to ask the opposition which Standing Order were they referring to that stipulated that the first question must be given to the parliamentary opposition leader.
Pandikar Amin interjected, saying: “Give a chance to the speaker. I agree with the Kinabatangan member that there was no provision in the Standing Orders on whose questions should be given priority.
“This is a question of convention and that also it’s up to the speaker’s discretion,” he said.
As Razali was about to ask the first question, Karpal again butted in, posing a question on Standing Orders.
Karpal said: “I hope the “bigfoot” from Kinabatangan will not interrupt me. Bigfoot sit down.”
Bung Moktar replied: “Stand up if you dare. If I’m bigfoot, you are big monkey.”
Karpal also questioned the status of Pasir Mas MP Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali, for contesting on a PAS ticket, but was given the seat as an independent in the Dewan Rakyat.
Pandikar Amin said the question on who to sit where was the Dewan Rakyat’s discretion.
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