BN gets scare in bloc-vote test
Malaysiakini.com
May 28, 2008 
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz & S Pathmawathy 

Barisan Nasional had a scare this morning when deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar for the first time ordered bloc voting - instead of a voice vote - on part of the Supplementary Supply (2007) Bill 2008.
MCPX

The B-12 section of the bill refers to 'Contribution to Statutory Fund' related to a Youth and Sports Ministry programme.

malaysia parliament parlimenBills are usually passed by a voice vote to indicate whether MPs agree or disagree to passage of a Bill, a practice which BN representatives had previously taken for granted, given their overwhelming majority in the House.

During the voice vote this time, however, the voices of opposition MPs shouting ‘disagree’ to the Bill emerged louder than those of BN who said ‘agree’.

Zuraidah Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang) and Mohd Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) then objected to passage of the Bill.

Emboldened by the fact that Pakatan MPs equal, if not exceed, the sparse number of BN MPs then in the House, more than 15 Pakatan MPs stood up in support of a bloc voting exercise when Junaidi asked those who were ‘serious’ about the issue to indicate their position.

There was palpable panic on the BN side of the chamber, as they scrambled to get the numbers.

abdullah ahmad badawi pak lahEven Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (right) was seen running in, followed by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak and Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein among others.

Amidst the cheers and jeers, there was a sense of relief when Junaidi announced 92 votes were counted in favour of the Bill, with 60 against and one absention.

First time to see PM rushing in

On emerging from the chambers later, Hishammuddin lamented the opposition's strategy in creating disorder in the House.

"Most importantly, we have more votes than we need and it was to our benefit, but all the fuss from them (opposition MPs) is just to disturb and disrupt the proceedings," he said.

"I hope they will learn their lesson. We have proven that we have the numbers and their tactics have no effect on us," said Hishammuddin.

Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali saw the result as a moral victory as only 92 of the 140 BN MPs were present to vote in support of the bill.

"It was a big drop. I know some of the MPs decided to leave the House before the vote because they didn't want to be a part of it.

However, the opposition similarly was able to garner only 60 out of its 82 available votes against the bill.

Azmin nevertheless mocked the prime minister and other cabinet members, all of whom rushed into the House to cast their votes.

"This is the first I have seen the prime minister running into the House," said Azmin.

"They are suppose to be there. They are answerable to the Parliament but they have no respect for the proceedings so they just left right after they finished voting," he added.

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