ACTION will be taken against BN MPs who did not attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting during the Supply Bill 2018 division vote on Monday, said chief whip Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid, however, did not elaborate on what kind of action will be taken, only that it would be an internal affair.

“We have taken action against those who did not attend the division vote (according to party rules),” Zahid told a press conference in Parliament today.

The government came close to an unprecedented and embarrassing defeat on Monday when it narrowly outvoted the opposition during the division vote on the Supply Bill on Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.

Debate was almost over at 8.30pm when G. Manivannan (PKR-Kapar) called for a division vote.

Several BN backbenchers had to scramble back to Dewan Rakyat before Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee tallied up the votes.

The Supply Bill was subsequently passed with 52 MPs supporting it while 51 voted against it. Two PAS MPs abstained to ensure BN’s slim victory.

“I have told party leaders to advise their MPs to be more serious in attending Dewan Rakyat sittings when they meet,” said Zahid.

“They should always be in Parliament,” he added.

Zahid said what matters was that BN won, although it was only by a single vote. – November 22, 2017.