KUALA LUMPUR: PAS’ Private Members’ Bill was raised during a cabinet meeting this month, said Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan (pic), adding that the issue had, however, not been included as an official agenda.
The International Trade and Industry Minister II corroborated a claim by Cabinet colleague Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau who said the matter was discussed during a Cabinet meeting on May 20.
“The Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid) presided over the meeting that day. He gave us a hypothetical question, asking what are our thoughts if a Bill relating to Act 355 was tabled in Parliament.
“On that day, everyone disagreed with it. Which was why were so shocked when it appeared in Parliament the next week,” Ong told reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding during the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” conference at Wisma MITI on Tuesday.
He added that the actions of Minister of the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, who had raised the motion for the Bill to be expedited, “did not follow proper protocol”.
“It did not receive the endorsement of the Cabinet or even the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council,” Ong said.
The normal protocol for parliamentary matters, he said, was that they were usually agreed upon by the Barisan Supreme Council before being brought forward to the Cabinet for official approval.
