THE issue of not having enough quorum in Parliament is typically brought up for political reasons, but lawmakers have been warned that they have to attend the sittings, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We discussed this matter in cabinet and we found that some ministers were overseas as there were too many international meetings that they had to attend, while others had other business.

“Some are in the building, just not in the Dewan. So, they can be recalled by ringing the bell.

“We have issued a warning to them. From now on, they will have to be present,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Dr Mahathir was commenting on an incident last week when Dewan Rakyat proceedings were stopped as there was not enough quorum.

He said the quorum issue is not a disciplinary matter and it happens in other countries as well.

“I’ve even witnessed this in the United States Congress, where just one was speaking but they’ve never raised any issue about quorum.

“Sometimes, this quorum issue is raised for political reasons.” – October 22, 2019.