KUCHING, Dec 19: Similar to students who enter class late after recess, several Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed their dissatisfaction with newly elected Speaker Dato Johari Abdul for ringing the bell only once for the commencement of the afternoon session of the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.
Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin abruptly rose to his feet and spoke, telling Johari that the bell typically rang for two minutes to alert MPs who were still outside.
“(But) the voting just goes on like this (with some MPs still outside), and it appears that there aren’t many votes cast,” added Bung Moktar.
Johari then informed the Kinabatangan MP that the bell had already rung for two minutes.
Another MP could be heard interjecting, claiming that the bell had not been heard outside.
“When there is a vote like this, the bell is usually rung a second time so that the representatives of the people outside understand that we have business in this House,” continued Bung Moktar.
Meanwhile, Rasah MP Cha Kee Chin expressed his support for the Kinabatangan MP’s statement.
Johari explained that there was no need for the bell to be rung a second time as the MPs were made aware that voting for the deputy speaker posts would take place.
Furthermore, Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim also called out the newly elected Speaker, saying, “Honorable Speaker, under which rule was the decision you made earlier? You said there is no need to ring the bell for the meeting. Because I was running as I didn’t hear the bell. I’m exhausted.”
Johari responded to the Arau MP, “Just before we took a break, I said we would return at 2.30pm. And I announced that voting would take place.” — DayakDaily
