THE special Parliament sitting on floods finished today after almost 10 hours with opposition MPs questioning Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s absence.

“Where is the prime minister? Is he not going to answer our questions?” said Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong-PH) after Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Kubang Kerian-PN) completed his winding-up at 8.10pm tonight.

“This is why I asked earlier today whether the prime minister will be responding to our questions,” Gobind added, as Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun closed the session.

Azhar replied that the ministers had already responded on Ismail’s behalf.

“As such, it is not necessary for the prime minister to be here.”

Earlier today, Ismail spoke to explain the government’s response to severe floods last month that struck several states, killing 55 people and causing economic losses estimated at RM20 billion.

MPs were given the chance to ask questions with the expectation the prime minister would be present to answer them.

However, this is not the first time he has been absent during the Ministers’ Question Time.

Today, after almost 10 hours of debate, Tuan Ibrahim, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing-PN) and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz were left to respond to 44 MPs who grilled the government on its actions during last month’s flood disaster. 

While Tuan Ibrahim and Tengku Zafrul managed to respond to some questions, Latiff’s session ended without much progress as much time was wasted in a shouting match between Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak-BN) and the opposition.

The government came under fire for its slow response and lack of warning over the floods last month.

This morning, Ismail blamed the authorities in Selangor, one of the worst-hit states, for lack of preparation, in an attempt to deflect anger directed at federal government during the crisis. – January 20, 2022.