Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby today, the prime minister said the issue had been discussed by the Cabinet.

“We discovered that some ministers were overseas because there were international meetings that they could not avoid, while some MPs had some other business to attend to,” he said.

Still others were in the Parliament building, just not in the Dewan Rakyat, he added. He said these MPs could be easily recalled into the Dewan Rakyat.

“We have issued a warning to them to make sure they are present from now on,” he added.

He disagreed that it was a matter of governmental discipline, saying such instances occur in other countries as well.

He also said the issue of quorum is sometimes raised for political reasons.

Dewan Rakyat proceedings were halted last Thursday due to a lack of quorum, sparking criticism of the administration by opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Deputy speaker Md Rashid Hasnon subsequently said the names of absent MPs could be published to remind them of their duties, although this would not be a first resort.

A minimum of 26 MPs are required in the Dewan Rakyat for proceedings to continue.