KUALA LUMPUR: The proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 19) was temporarily halted because there were not enough MPs present in the House, causing a lack of quorum.
This happened while Roy Angau Gingkoi (GPS-Lubok Antu) was delivering his speech on Budget 2024 and Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) pointed out the insufficient number of MPs.
Samsudin stood up and invoked Standing Order 13(1), prompting Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to order a headcount.
The exact number of MPs present in the House was not disclosed.
Subsequently, Johari instructed the bell to be rung for two minutes to allow more MPs to enter the chamber.
Once the time elapsed, the proceedings resumed.
According to Standing Order 13, there must be a minimum of 26 MPs out of the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat for the proceedings to continue.
This is the second time during the 15th Parliament meeting that the proceedings were temporarily suspended due to a lack of quorum.
The first instance occurred in March when only 24 MPs were present in the hall, resulting in a two-minute halt.
Similar incidents of a lack of quorum had taken place in the Dewan Rakyat under previous administrations.
