PERIKATAN Nasional MPs were absent from the Dewan Rakyat for the ongoing debate on the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report.

Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Alice Lau said “no opposition MPs” were present as of 2.45pm while Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) said the opposition benches were empty as at 2.51pm.

Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut) said PN did not boycott the sitting, stressing that MPs merely did not wish to participate in the ongoing debate.

Khairil, who is also PAS’ information chief, said PN had already agreed with the contents of the report. 

“Therefore, there was no need for the matter to be debated in Parliament,”he said

However, William Leong (PH-Selayang) said it was unfortunate that the opposition did not want to debate the report as it would contribute towards improving accountability in the country.

Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) also agreed, saying it was strange that the Opposition MPs were not around.

“All the seats are empty, for me this is historic in itself,” he said.

Earlier opposition MPs said the debate on the report was unnecessary as the matter fell under the purview of the Public Accounts Committee.

Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) said the move to debate the report had never been done before and the report was previously only laid on MPs’ tables.

“This has never happened before that the audit report is open for debate.

“I believe that the motion to debate the audit report could be against the Parliament’s Standing Orders and the Federal Constitution,” he told the chamber.  – June 6, 2023.