The bloc vote on the Supply Bill 2018 at the committee level for the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) at Dewan Rakyat yesterday shows that the system of democracy in the country is alive and well.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said said all members of parliament should respect the decision as the process was conducted in accordance with procedures under the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat.

"The opposition’s attempt to thwart the bill by bloc vote had clearly been unsuccessful as the budget estimate for the ministry was approved with a simple majority," she said in a statement today.

Lawmakers from both sides of the divide became embroiled in a verbal spat over the outcome of the block voting to approve the 2018 budget allocation for KPDNKK.

The incident took place when G Manivannan (PKR-Kapar) stood up after KPDNKK minister Hamzah Zainudin completed his winding-up speech and proposed that a vote is conducted via block voting to decide the support for the Supply Bill.

Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee consented to Manivannan’s proposal and the Supply Bill for the ministry was passed after getting 52 votes in favour and 51 against.

- Bernama