BN lawmakers who were absent during a close vote on Monday have been ticked off, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the BN whip.
Zahid told a press conference in Parliament today that action has been taken against the absent BN MPs, although he did not provide specifics.
"I have taken action actually. I have already told and advised them that they should be more serious in attending (parliamentary) sessions," Zahid said.
Sensing a numerical superiority in the House on Monday, Kapar MP G Manivannan (photo) caught backbenchers by surprise by calling for a bloc vote during the committee stage debate for the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry's portion of Budget 2018.
Following this, red-faced BN MPs had to scramble to make up the numbers. The final tally saw the backbenchers edging the opposition by just one vote - 52 to 51.
This meant that more than 80 BN lawmakers did not attend the sitting. Two PAS MPs abstained.
"That's why I have reprimanded them," said Zahid, adding, "What's important is that we have won."
Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) told the media on Monday that only three or four ministers participated in the bloc voting.
On Dec 15, 2009, the same thing had happened when the House passed the 2010 Budget at the committee stage.
The government only passed the Budget for the committee stage with a one-vote majority, by securing 64 votes.
-Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.