Parliameny is not a joke?

First session of Parliament concludes with many changes

NST (1/6/08): The first session of the 12th Parliament opened on April 28 with many changes. Various quarters are relieved that the 16-day session ended on Thursday before resuming in June.

It was punctuated with high drama, surprises and antics from the MPs, of whom 99 were first-time legislators.

Many opposition and government MPs fought for the opportunity to drive home their points during debates, probably prompted by the live telecasts of them beamed by RTM1 for 30 minutes.

The first session attracted a lot of attention because the Barisan Nasional (BN) was returned to power in the March 8 general election with only a simple majority winning 140 seats with the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), DAP and PAS grabbing 81 seats while another seat went to an Independent candidate.

With a bigger opposition bench, Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and his deputies, Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Datuk Ronald Kiandee, faced a daunting task in dealing with the point of order raised time and again by MPs on the first day of the question and answer session.

Eventually, only three questions could be answered by the government during the question time before it moved on with the debate on the royal address.

"This is because everybody wants to be on television,” was Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s (Independent-Pasir Mas) take on what happened.

Ibrahim was also chided by Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) for not wearing a lounge suit as required during the swearing-in ceremony.

However, Pandikar said the ruling did not apply to Ibrahim as an Independent MP he did not have a Chief Whip to remind him.

Ibrahim quipped, “Congratulations, Speaker sir, you are a learned man.”

Datuk Anifah Aman (BN-Kimanis) and Abdul Ghapur also warned BN leaders that the political tsunami experienced by the coalition in the general election would become even worse for it if the problems faced by Sabahans were not dealt with.

"It does not mean that when we champion the aspirations of the people, we are going against the government. It does not mean that when use strong words we want to jump ship. What we are telling the Dewan, the people of Sabah will not jump ship like in five states in the peninsula,” said Anifah.

In another breath, he said it was not impossible to “move from a bungalow to a terrace house if you are given enough space. Never mind a terrace house if you are accorded the same facilities but in a bungalow you are made to sleep beside the toilet,” he said in referring to the raw deal Sabahans were getting from the federal government.

Talk that some BN MPs from Sabah would jump ship became rife after PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had time and again expounded that the opposition would form the government with the defection of disgruntled BN MPs from Sabah.

Speaking to the press outside the Dewan Rakyat, Abdul Rahman Dahalan (BN-Kota Belud) lent weight to the talk by saying that he was offered benefits which could last three generations if he were to defect to PKR.

He lodged reports with the Anti-Corruption Agency in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting also saw both BN and opposition MPs trading inauspicious remarks like `Projek Babi Negara’ by Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) when he reacted to Khairy Jamaluddin’s (BN-Rembau) insinuation on PKR accronym as “Projek Khinzir Raksasa”. At another time, the Dewan Rakyat was interrupted for 10 minutes when Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Haron said a Tamil word `ukkar’ (sit down) but some MPs said it could become a vulgar word if wrongly pronounced.

N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) was reproached when he approached the speaker’s bench and whispered the meaning of the word to him.

On another occasion, Gobalakrishnan brought P Waythamoorthy’s six-year-old daughter to Parliament’s lobby to celebrate her birthday.

Waythamoorthy is one of the leaders of the Hindraf organisation and is on self-imposed exile overseas following the detention of five of its other leaders under the Internal Security Act.

Ibrahim, meanwhile, had the misfortune of being mobbed in Parliament’s lobby by about 30 disabled people who took exception to his remarks against wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) for not standing up when raising a point of order.

On seeing this, Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan,) who is also the Backbencher’s Club deputy chairman, pointed out the need to tighten security in the Dewan Rakyat.

Unlike before, Parliament’s car park was full during the session while the media centre was crowded as more reporters were assigned to cover the developments at the august house.

As for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, they were seen working at their offices at the Dewan Rakyat when their presence was not required.

On Wednesday, for the first time, a supply bill was approved through block voting - 92 Barisan Nasional MPs voted in favour of the bill, 60 opposition MPs voted against it while another did not cast his vote.

The Supplementary Supply Bill 2008 (2007) on the provision to the statutory fund an amount of RM16.810 billion was earlier debated at the committee stage.

The decision to call for block voting caused many MPs including Abdullah and Najib to rush into the Dewan Rakyat when the bell was rang.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was also seen calling the MPs to come back to the house.

When Wan Junaidi announced that a lone MP did not register his vote, many MPs turned their heads towards Ibrahim Ali.

Several opposition MPs quipped that they might be lucky the next time. (Ahmad Shukran Shaharuddin - Bernama)

Close shave for RM16.8b bill

The Sun (28/5/08): Had the Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs - ministers, deputy ministers and the parliamentarians - not reacted fast enough to the bell, the RM16.8 billion Supplementary Supply Bill would not have been passed in Parliament today.

After a 15-minute wait for division (vote), Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar ruled the bill was passed 92 to 60 votes, with one abstaining from voting.

The division process erupted from the usual process of Wan Junaidi asking for those in support of it to state if they agree or disagree but he noted that the voice for agreeing was quite soft, then ruling that the voice of disagreement was sharper than agreement.

Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) then stood to ask for a division but Wan Junaidi waved it off saying there was no need for it, echoed by some BN MPs to which Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) then said there was indeed a need for it.

"The sum of RM16 billion is a big amount," Mohamed Azmin said, supported by fellow Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parliamentarians.

Wan Junaidi agreed on the point that it involved a big sum of funds.

"As a matter of principle, we will also want to know who is involved in this and are agreeing to waste the people’s money," Tian Chua said, drawing a loud roar from the BN MPs.

"Show your dissatisfaction outside lah," quipped Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak).

Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) said: "There are many ministers and deputy ministers who are not around and are not willing to sit in the House, so let’s have this to also teach them a lesson so they will attend proceedings."

Wan Junaidi then succumbed to the pressure and asked for parliamentarians to vote.

"Yang Berhormats, there are more than 15 who asked for division and according to Standing Order 46, the division will be held … Now," he said.

Throughout the 15 minutes of collecting votes, MPs started jeering, including Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) who said: "Those who agree to this are indeed wasters."

Wan Junaidi then called for order and asked the MPs to take their seats.

"No need for you to stand up, Yang Berhormats. Those who are not counters, sit down. There is no need for chaos in the House," he said.

While the bell rang for MPs to return to the House, Wan Junaidi’s instructions and call for calm seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

Boos and jeers were heard as MPs returned to the House, and even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took his seat to support the vote. Wan Junaidi was seen smiling at members entering the House.

A few moments later, Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) called for Point-of-Order in Standing Order 48(7) (5) where it provides that members with self-interests cannot support a motion and each parliamentarian needed to declare this.

BN MPs including Datuk Noh Omar (BN-Tanjung Karang), Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (BN-Semporna) and Datuk Lilah Yassin (BN-Jempol) did not take this sitting down, as they "roared" against this.

After taking control of the situation, Wan Junaidi rejected the Point-of-Order, saying: "The question of interest was not raised in debates, secondly, if we want to investigate one-by-one, we will not be able to solve this even in 2010."

M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) then stood to defend Lim to which Wan Junaidi said: "Yang Berhormat! Everybody has interest in these funds because it is also used for salaries and projects and for roads."

"We all have an interest in it. Stop raising petty issues," he retorted.

Instantly, there was more noise from the PR MPs as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak made his entry to place his vote.

Khalid Abd Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) quipped: "Next time, let the government's side be better represented."

Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi responded: "Yang Berhormat! (Referring to Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad – Khalid’s brother) Watch your sibling. He’s too naughty."

Following this, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also made his entry amid a noisier House.

"Please be patient and don’t make noise," Wan Junaidi pleaded before announcing the decision.

Order only resumed after the BN MPs jeered their PR peers for wasting time while Khalid then said the BN members could now leave the House again since the division was completed.

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.

Barisan MPs get wake-up call

Malay Mail (29/5/08): The first rumblings of a two-party parliamentary democracy were heard in the House yesterday when the MPs, sitting as a committee, divided unexpectedly during a vote on the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill.

Made complacent perhaps by its long possession of the majority, the government had undoubtedly expected voting to proceed in the fashion of a rubber stamp — and indeed, members had been voting orally without much ado for most of the morning.

Also, noses on both sides were still bloody from the controversy of the previous day, and they were worn down badly by the spate of late-night sittings caused by the over-indulgence in speeches, which left little time for the Bills.

With no Question Time, the morning was, in a word, dull. Both sides were in a state of heavy-lidded lethargy, save for the immaculately groomed and annoyingly alert Pas frontbench, which seemed intent on pursuing all its questions from the perspective of forensic accounting — laudable, but for the most part rather dull.

After a few procedural votes, however, it became clear that the opposition voices were drowning out the government. The various chairmen (as the Speaker and his deputies are called during committee sittings) seemed content all the same, and went about their business without much thought.

“More voices agree,” chairman Datuk Ronald Kiandee (the Deputy Speaker) said each t ime. The voi ces seemed evenly matched, however, and members on both sides laughed at what they considered a fine lark.

Tian Chua (PKR-Batu), however , was awake enough to realise that a Supplementary Supply Bill was a serious enough matter (“Supply” being synonymous with “Budget”) and rose to call for a division by which members’ votes are registered individually.

Should the opposition have defeated the Bill, or even a part of it, the government would have been prevented from funding whatever branch of the civil service that needed the money — and at least one Commonwealth government, the Labour government of Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, was dismissed in this way in 1975.

Sadly, Tian Chua’s colleagues either didn’t understand what he was playing at, or they were too new to Parliament; and in the ensuing half-hearted booing from the government backbench, the activist MP sat down again.

By this time, however, opposition Chief Whip Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) sensed something amiss, and finally presented a properly formed motion to divide. Finding the necessary support of 15 members, the chairman complied.

The bell rang. Government MPs lounging about outside came bounding in like rabbits.

Others waddled. Most were confused. Red faced and flustered, MCA ministers Datuk Liow Tiong Lai (BN-Bentong) and Datuk Ng Yen Yen (BN-Raub) were the first to be jeered at for arriving late.

Unfortunately, worse was to follow. Counting was well under way when the prime minister rushed into the House. He was outdone by his deputy some long minutes later — apparently after the count — and there was a great deal of whooping from the other side, prompting inane calls of “phantom votes” from Datuk Shamsul Anwar Nasarah (BN-Lenggeng).

In the event, the government won with 92 votes versus 60 against (there was one abstention, that of Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Ind- Pasir Mas, who probably felt that the division wasn’t important enough to warrant his attention).

While government MPs thumped their tables in triumph, the day’s lesson will remain etched in their memories for some time to come. The government Chief Whip, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (BN-Pekan), himself not the best example of discipline, may now have to implement the three-line system to compel members’ attendance.

Or, if his duties prevent him, he should perhaps consider ceding that authority to Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (BN-Padang Renggas) who, as de facto minister of Parliament, is a much better enforcer of party discipline.