Quorum conundrum: Nazri not amused by 'childish prank'

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz today labeled Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians as 'childish pranksters'.

He was referring to this morning's rumpus, when the bell to recall the parliamentarians from their lunch break, had to be rung twice due to insufficient quorum.

"They know we are around, in the lobby talking to the press, or in a meeting, yet they call for quorum. These are childish pranks. It is stupid and a waste of our time," said Nazri ( left ).

DAP's member of parliament from Kota Melaka Sim Tong Him made the call for quorum.

At the time only around 15 to 20 parliamentarians were in the chambers.

According to standing orders, 26 parliamentarians must be in chambers for a session to start.

However, it was later discovered that BN had more MPs than Pakatan, resulting in the BN representatives ribbing the opposition for making the call for quorum only to be tardy themselves.

Nazri warned that the standing orders like the quorum while useful, is also open to abuse.

Asked if there should be courses to teach parliamentarians about manners to prevent such immature behaviour, he responded: "They know it, but they just choose not to practice it. How can we change that?"

He admitted that the problems with decorum exist on both sides of the aisle.

Calls to abolish quorum

Quizzed on his opinion on the recent call for the abolition of the parliamentary quorum and for notice to be given prior to block voting, show of hands and voting by division, he said that he had not yet been formally informed.

"There has been no written request yet for any reforms towards quorum or block voting."

He explained that these matters were in the purview of the Select Committee on Standing Orders chaired by the Dewan Rakyat speaker and made up of members from both sides of the parliamentary aisle.

"If they want suggest any amendments they can write to the speaker, and cc to me, then we can initiate action."

Last month, Kinabatangan parliamentarian Bung Mokhtar ( right ) and several BN Backbenchers (BNBBC) made the call for the quorum to be abolished and for notice to be given prior to block voting, show of hands or voting by division.