Members of Parliament should not complain about the speaker's decision to limit their debate time on the budget as this is a common practice everywhere in the world, said Speaker Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail today.

"No parliament in the world would allow all its members to debate as we have limited time," he stressed, adding that this was a normal practice when debating on the proposed budget.

"This power is within the limitations of the Standing Order and under the jurisdiction of the speaker. We are only doing our duty," he said.

Mohamed Zahir said some parliaments fixed the number of MPs who wished to debate on a certain day. The MPs, he said, were also assigned certain topics only.

"If everyone wanted to speak, even if we add another ten days to our debate time, we will not finish debating," said the veteran speaker.

"However, when I announce an adjournment or leave, everyone will clap. When the days will be replaced is not within my powers," he added.

'Rubber stamp'

Earlier, Chong Eng (DAP - Bukit Mertajam) requested for more MPs to be given the chance to speak.

She also requested the session for debate be prolonged if there were MPs who still wished to speak.

"The budget has increased but the time for debate has not. There are not enough days in a week to finish the debate," said Chong Eng.

"With due respect, we are not here to be a rubber stamp only," she added.

However, Mohamed Aziz (BN - Sri Gading) defended the speaker's decision saying that all MPs had sufficient time to speak during debate sessions.

"No point in having more time (to speak), the opposition keeps raising the same issues until we have memorised all that they have said," he said.

Yesterday, Chong Eng walked out of the House when her request to speak was ignored several times