PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang refused to explain why he was absent from the Dewan Rakyat during the policy stage vote on Budget 2016 last night.

The Marang MP was among six opposition MPs absent from the House during the crucial vote that the opposition worked on to send a signal of no confidence in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Asked of this at the French Embassy in Kuala Lumpur today, Hadi just said that the vote has been cast and entered his car to leave.

"The budget (vote) is over, it's over. It's over," he said when met after he visited the embassy in Kuala Lumpur to express solidarity with France after the Paris attacks on Nov 13.

Bugdet 2016 was passed at policy stage by 128 votes to 74 last night.

PAS instructed its MPs to abstain, but three broke ranks to vote down the budget. Another four, including Hadi, were absent while seven abstained.

DAP's Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw was absent, while its Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang has been suspended from the House.

All PKR (29), Parti Amanah Negara (6) and PSM (1) MPs voted against the budget.

The committee stage debate on Budget 2016 takes place today.

[More to follow]

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