OPPOSITION lawmakers staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat this morning after the speaker refused to allow for a debate on emergency Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawals for the needy.

Led by Hamzah Zainudin, who is the opposition leader, several Perikatan Nasional MPs had a brief verbal exchange with Deputy Speaker Alice Lau, who said the motion could not proceed.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) earlier asked for an urgent motion on the issue to be discussed today.

He said he had submitted a written motion on the matter last Friday to Speaker Johari Abdul.

Lau said she could not overrule Johari’s decision and urged Wan Ahmad Fayhsal to meet the speaker personally. 

This led to the opposition lawmakers’ walkout.

Prior to that Hamzah said the debate on EPF withdrawals was important as it concerned the people.

“If this matter is not discussed, we will (PN MPs) walk out in protest,” Hamzah said.

“People are complaining and we are trying to bring in an important matter to be discussed,” he added.

Lau repeated there was nothing she could do on the matter and advised the Larut MP to meet Johari.

An annoyed Lau also told the opposition lawmakers they were free to leave the Dewan Rakyat if they felt dissatisfied.

Earlier this month, the government proposed to introduce a scheme that allows EPF contributors to use their retirement funds as a support to apply for bank loans.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this facility would only be for those who need money desperately.

The government also rejected allowing special withdrawals from the people’s retirement fund. – April 3, 2023.