Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, the Ayer Hitam MP said he was shocked that no representative from the government was present to answer the 13th question during question time today.

“I understand that some ministers are unwell, but their deputies must at least be on hand to answer the questions. What happened just now was both shocking and saddening.”

Wee called on the speaker to make a ruling that ministries must be represented in the Dewan Rakyat by at least their minister or deputy.

“If we allow them to only answer in writing, then it’s pointless to have a question-and-answer session,” he said, adding that the questions asked were specific to the ministries concerned.

“I hope everyone respects the Dewan Rakyat and the standing orders. I hope no one says that the deputy minister is too busy to attend because no work matter is more important than the Dewan Rakyat.”

The MCA deputy president said this was why he and others in the opposition were puzzled over why the deputy speaker made no ruling on the matter and instead referred it to the Prime Minister’s Department.

Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon said while he understood that the ministers and their deputies were busy, “if the minister cannot attend then the deputy minister has to”.

On a separate matter, Wee, who is running for MCA president, said he would leave it to MCA delegates to decide on the party’s direction.

Wee said this when asked on his stand whether MCA should remain in Barisan Nasional after his rival for the top MCA post, Gan Ping Sieu, said he would take the party out of the coalition if he won in the party election.

“That is his strategy. In my manifesto, I said we would leave it to the delegates when we meet on Dec 2, to respect the wishes of party members.”