THERE were enough government backbenchers in Parliament to pass the Budget 2020 allocation for the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, said Mohamed Hanipa Maidin today.

The deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said MPs stepped out of the chamber last night because it was “too cold” inside.

“We had enough MPs, but it was hard to sit in the chamber for a long time as it was too cold,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

When the bell was rung to summon parliamentarians back inside, he said, there were enough backbenchers to vote through the allocation.

The opposition called for a bloc vote twice yesterday, believing there were not enough government backbenchers present.

In the first count, the allocation was approved with a four-vote majority, with 28 opposition MPs rejecting it. In the second vote, the majority increased by 17 after more backbenchers entered the chamber. The final count was 45 to 28.

Hanipa described Barisan Nasional’s move to call for a second vote as normal, saying Pakatan Harapan had done the same when it was the opposition.

“We did that before, and now, they are just copying us. No problem. Small matter.”

Meanwhile, PH chief whip Johari Abdul attributed the low turnout of MPs to fatigue from debating the budget, as well as having to execute their duties as elected representatives.

“For this budget session, we often end late at night. We reach home around midnight, and the next day, we have to wake up early again. It is very tiring.

“Also, ministries and government agencies are involved in many programmes at the end of the year.

“Although we have a schedule, sometimes, it’s not followed. But we always ensure we meet the quorum.”

He said he will discuss with the Dewan Rakyat speaker about ensuring MPs have “quality time” to debate.

“We have to discuss with the speaker to see how MPs can have that quality time. Now, it’s a bit tiring.”

Ayer Hitam MP Wee Ka Siong, however, dismissed fatigue as a reason, saying the problem is not new.

He said Johari is trying to cover for backbenchers who do not take debates seriously.

“The reason given is only to cover their weaknesses. They either don’t care or don’t take (debates) seriously.

“There are 127 PH MPs. Why can’t they have more than 40 or 60 in the chamber at any one time?”

The MCA president said opposition lawmakers’ request for a second vote was to “educate” backbenchers on the importance of attending Parliament sessions.

“This is their budget. Why are they absent?

“There was not even a minister present initially. After the bell was sounded, only then did we see two ministers walking in.” – November 27, 2019.