The Defence Ministry's absence from Parliament today was glaringly felt when none of their officers was present during the question-and-answer session.

The matter came to light when it was time to answer a question from Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah's (PAS - Pengkalan Chepa) for the ministry and neither the minister, Najib Abdul Razak, nor his deputy, Shapie Apdal, was around.

When the question was called by speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries from other ministries who were present looked at each other in puzzlement, possibly wondering how the Defence Ministry had left itself 'defenceless' in the House.

Next question

Thinking that one of the ministry's staff could be fielding questions in the Dewan Negara, ushers were sent hurriedly to look for them there.

Other parliamentarians shouted that either one of the ministry's deputies could tackle the questions instead.

However, they looked disappointed when they realised that not a single defence staff was around.

Finally, Transport Ministry parliamentary secretary Donald Lim left the hall to look for them elsewhere in the building. He came back with no one in tow.

Speaker Tun Mohamed Zahir Ismail had no choice but to move on to the next question.

This matter, surprisingly, did not stir any of the opposition MPs.

Today is the last day of the parliamentary session which will resume next March.