PARLIAMENT | Rows of empty seats on the government side of the Dewan Rakyat this evening led to one question from BN lawmakers: where are all the ministers?

Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) tweeted that both ministers and their deputies left the House by 4pm, an hour and a half before the sitting ended.

"They used to ask us, why we were always missing from the Dewan Rakyat.

"Looks like they're not so great. I hope there's a change after this. There needs to be a rotation of who is on duty," said the former deputy international trade and industry minister.

It is understood that cabinet held its weekly meeting today, but this does not explain the absence of the deputy ministers, who do not sit in cabinet meetings.

Malaysiakini understands that at least one deputy minister, Amanah's Hanipa Maidin, was in the House at about 4.30pm.

Meanwhile, former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) tweeted that not a single minister was present when opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi began his debate on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's speech.

He then proposed a solution to avoid ministers being absent from Parliament.

"I propose that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad hold cabinet meetings on Fridays when the House is not in session to respect parliamentary proceedings," he said.

This was the practice of the previous BN government since Parliament does not convene on Fridays.

The absence of government representatives also became fodder for BN lawmakers, who heckled Hasan Bahrom (Harapan-Tampin) when he spoke about Putrajaya's appointment of women ministers and deputy ministers, such as Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Rina Harun, and Yeo Bee Yin.

"They've run and left the House... None of them are here!" a group of BN MPs shouted.

Yesterday, opposition lawmakers became the butt of jokes when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong quipped that MPs should not “run away” at the start of his speech when officiating the 14th parliament sitting.

This was in reference to opposition lawmakers staging a walkout on Monday in protest of Mohamad Ariff Md Yunos' appointment as the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

BN and PAS lawmakers claimed the appointment did not comply with the Standing Order, but Mahathir denied this.