With the Dewan Rakyat not taking any lunch breaks during the debate on the king’s address, Kalam Salan (PN-Sabak Bernam) stood to point out the lack of quorum for proceedings to continue.

The minimum quorum for Dewan Rakyat sittings is 26 MPs, not including the speaker.

“We don’t have enough MPs, there are only 15 MPs right now,” said Kalam.

Deputy speaker Alice Lau then asked the Dewan Rakyat secretary to ring the bell to get government backbenchers to enter the hall so that proceedings could continue.

Later, Johari told Kalam that he and other MPs should be pragmatic before pointing out the lack of quorum in the House.

He said the reason the Dewan Rakyat was not taking lunch breaks was so that MPs would have more time to participate in the debate on the king’s address.

“Although it’s your right to make a quorum call, sometimes we have to be pragmatic… There are no breaks, when it would have usually been used for (Muslims to perform) prayers, meals and briefings.

“We have to be fair to everyone,” the Dewan Rakyat speaker said.

“Everyone now has 12 minutes for their debate. During my time, we were allocated just three minutes because of the lunch break. What can you say in three minutes?”

He added that when an MP raised the lack of quorum, the speaker would have no choice but to ring the bell to get other MPs to attend proceedings.

Earlier, RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) claimed the opposition was intentionally pointing out the lack of quorum at a time when most MPs had to attend a briefing by the environment department.

He said this gave the perception that MPs did not take Dewan Rakyat proceedings seriously.