This scene has never taken place in the history of the Malaysian Parliament before but it did this afternoon.

It was 3.30pm. Parliament was in session and a legislator was speaking. There was heavy rain and thunderstorm outside. Suddenly, water started pouring into the chamber from a badly leaked roof, messing up the seats of several deputy ministers.

Parliament workers frantically brought in buckets to collect the water. The microphone suddenly went dead. Then it was pitch black. Deputies in the House panicked and ran out. The meeting was adjourned indefinitely. [ Photo taken with a mobile phone ].

Parliament was abruptly adjourned this afternoon when water from a leaking roof poured into the August chamber following heavy rain and thunderstorm.

The incident occurred when Finance Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Helmi Yahaya was winding up the debate for his ministry on the Excise (Amendment) Bill 2005.

The water wet the seats of Deputy Internal Security Ministers Noh Omar and Chia Kwang Chye and Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister S Sothinathan.

Their seats were nearest to the House Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib, but the affected ministers were not present during the incident.

At about 3.40pm, when Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) stood up to raise an issue, the microphone suddenly went off.

MPs, now badly shaken, ran out of the House as it plunged into darkness.

Ten minutes later, Deputy Speaker Lim Si Cheng announced that the meeting was adjourned indefinitely due to 'unavoidable circumstances'.

'Day of shame'

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) described the incident as "a day of shame for Parliament".

"Parliament has just spent about RM80 million for renovation. Before the renovation, this has never happened. How come it happened only after the renovation?" he asked.

Lim called for immediate investigations into the incident.

The opposition leader said Kok was about to urge the MPs to shorten their speeches in order to allow a motion to debate on democracy in Burma.

It is learnt that some MPs had intended to raise the issue of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ordering Parliament to put off the Burma motion after receiving pressure from Rangoon.

It is learnt that there was a minor leak during heavy rain yesterday afternoon but not much attention was paid to it. The press room is also said to have a similar leaking problem.

Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib told reporters later that the meeting has to be adjourned as "it could be dangerous to continue since electrical appliances may be affected".

It is learnt that there was a short circuit in the chamber, plunging the hall into darkness.

"Then there is also the danger of the roof collapsing as water continues to pour in," he said, adding, "I have not experienced anything like this before."

Ramli said the parliamentary administrative department will conduct a thorough probe into the matter.

Today is also the last day of the current session. The next parliamentary session is from June 20 to July 12, while the following one is slated from Sept 19 to Dec 8.