He was referring to the committee stage debate on Monday for the domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism ministry’s portion of Budget 2018, where a vote was called and 52 BN MPs voted for the bill while 51 opposition MPs voted against it.

“I have taken action and also advised them to be more serious about attending the sessions in Parliament,” he told reporters at the Parliament building today.

Six PAS MPs also voted against the bill which was on the rising cost of living.

They were Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena), Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (Bachok), Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (Dungun), Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad (Pasir Puteh), Izani Husin (Pengkalan Chepa), and Ahmad Baihaki Atiqullah (Kubang Kerian).

During the winding up of the debate, the Dewan Rakyat was almost empty, with most BN MPs not on the floor.

Deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee instructed for the House bell to be rung for two minutes, before deciding on the vote.

Government lawmakers then rushed into the House to vote and BN won by a razor-thin margin of one vote.

However, opposition MPs argued that the House was out of order for delaying the vote count with the intention of ensuring more BN MPs could be present to submit their vote.

In response, Kiandee said there was no provision in the Standing Order that denied lawmakers who come in late, the right to participate in the voting process.

Ministry’s budget allocation passed by just one vote in Dewan