Kuala lumpur: Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat today and did not take part in the ministerial briefing session regarding the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the management and operations of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the walkout was staged after the opposition MPs expressed dissatisfaction with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul's decision to proceed with the briefing without the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Following the walkout, Johari allowed the opposition lawmakers to leave, and the sitting continued as scheduled.
Speaker Johari stated, 'If anyone wants to leave, leave. If anyone wants to stay, stay. Because the public is watching you. Fine, those who feel they do not want to discuss this and do not think this is important, please leave,' before requesting the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hasan, to continue with the briefing.
Earlier in the session, Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan proposed postponing the special sitting due to the absence of Anwar and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who are both receiving medical treatment. Takiyuddin argued that the tabling and debate of the TH RCI report should occur when the Prime Minister can attend, given the issue's significance and public interest.
Takiyuddin emphasized the importance of the Prime Minister's presence in the Dewan Rakyat to provide a comprehensive explanation, noting that Anwar himself had raised the matter. It is understood that all opposition MPs will not participate in the entire special sitting.
The ministerial briefing on the RCI report on TH and the measures taken to restore its financial position is being held during today's Special Dewan Rakyat Sitting. On July 29, the RCI published its 211-page report, detailing weaknesses in the institution's management and operations between 2014 and 2020. The report presented 25 recommendations for improvements, with 75 percent implemented by TH as of July 30.
The government announced the establishment of the RCI in 2021, appointed its members on January 20, 2022, and the RCI report was subsequently presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on August 30, 2022.