His response came hours after Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said action had been taken against several BN MPs who were absent during Monday’s committee stage debate for the domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism ministry’s portion of the 2018 Budget.
“I am not (the party) whip. If I was the deputy whip, then he would have told me,” he told reporters when asked to respond to Zahid’s statement this morning.
He was asked on the type of action taken against BN MPs absent during the wrapping-up of the ministry’s budget allocation for 2018.
Nazri was also asked if he had received a letter or was approached on the reasons for being absent in the Dewan Rakyat.
Nazri said he was unable to attend Monday night’s meeting as he had an upset stomach.
“So I don’t know about that (about the action).”
Many BN MPs were absent during the voting which saw the ruling party winning by just one vote at the Dewan Rakyat.
Earlier, Zahid had said he had taken action and also advised BN MPs to be more serious about attending proceedings in Parliament.
Six PAS MPs also voted against the bill which was on the rising cost of living.
They were Mahfuz Omar (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 just 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 Orders that denied lawmakers the right to participate in the voting process if they came in late.
Ministry’s budget allocation passed by just one vote in Dewan
Opposition claims 52 MPs voted against ministry’s budget, not 51