MINISTERS and deputy ministers who were not present during the vote on a motion to extend the validity of a legal provision under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) should be sacked said Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

 The Gua Musang lawmaker said those absent should be held accountable for causing an important motion on national security not to be approved.

The Umno veteran added that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should fire them for neglecting their respective responsibilities.

“It is a shared responsibility when such a motion, to safeguard national security is ignored by cabinet ministers who are responsible for making the decision so that it is extended,” he was quoted as saying by Astro Awani after officiating the Gagasan Melayu Perak General Assembly Meeting today.The parliament Hansard showed that two senior ministers and five ministers were among the 29 government MPs who were not present during the vote.

The official record showed that senior ministers Mohamed Azmin Ali (Gombak) and Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong) were not in the Dewan Rakyat when Parliament called for a vote at 5pm on Wednesday.

Hansard also showed that five ministers, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Santubong), Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam), M. Saravanan (Tapah), Maximus Johnity Ongkili (Kota Marudu), and Annuar Musa (Ketereh) were absent during the vote.

However, Wee and Saravanan are overseas on working trips.

According to the Hansard, the six deputy ministers who were absent were Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Padang Besar), Eddin Syazlee Shith (Kuala Pilah), Kamarudin Jaffar (Bandar Tun Razak), Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (Pasir Puteh).

The Kelantan prince said Ismail would not sack those who missed the voting as it would jeopardise his position. 

“He won’t do it, he won’t throw them out. If he throws out, he’s finished,” he said.

According to him, such an outcome has never happened before with a ruling party.

“You decided to bring a motion in Parliament, you know you have a small number, why not attend,” he added.

On Wednesday, opposition lawmakers voted against a motion to extend the validity of a legal provision that allows suspects to be detained for up to 28 days under Sosma.

Eighty-six MPs voted against the motion to 85 for the motion. Fifty lawmakers were absent.

Sub-section 4(5) of Sosma must be reviewed every five years and will cease in July unless both Houses agree to extend the clause.

The provision was first enforced on July 31, 2012, and renewed for the first time in 2017. – March 26, 2022.