KUALA LUMPUR: Ministers or their deputies must be present during question time in the Dewan Rakyat, Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff said today.
He said the new rule was in line with the Dewan Rakyat standing orders and conventions practised in the UK.
“The relevant minister or deputy minister needs to be present to reply to questions directed to them,” he said.
On Oct 25, a question by opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datuk) on the cancellation of a project to upgrade police stations was answered by Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.
Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) however said the question should have been answered by the relevant minister or deputy minister.
Ariff said Standing Order 21 (1) (A) and 21 (3) states that a question must be answered by the minister who has specific knowledge on the issue.