'Everyone knows my WhatsApp number, no one contacted' - Dewan Rakyat Speaker disappointed

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun has expressed disappointment with the attitude of some opposition MPs who questioned the rules of the ministerial debate set for 20 minutes and only 80 elected representatives were allowed to be in the House.

Azhar Azizan said the matter should not be an issue and raised again as all party whip leaders have agreed on the matter in a previous meeting.

"Even on Sunday I came to the office and my WhatsApp number is known by all. I was willing to come on Sunday night for a meeting but no one contacted me on this issue.

"But when I entered at 11 am today, everyone got up and raised this matter. We have agreed but no one contacted me to raise this matter so that it can be discussed before today.

"Today we have wasted 30 minutes just to question a decision that has been agreed before," he said in the Dewan Rakyat sitting here on Monday.

Earlier, the winding up session by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, was delayed about 30 minutes after the opposition MPs intervened to raise the issue.

The issue was raised by Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Port Dickson) immediately after the oral question and answer session at 11 am and Azhar announced that the winding up session of the debate will take place from today until Thursday.

Azhar Azizan gave half an hour to several MPs to give their views before Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (BN-Arau) opined that the House should continue according to the agreed rules.