Opposition claims not receiving notice for Auditor General's report debate

SHAH ALAM - The opposition bloc explains their actions of vacating the Parliament, claiming that they are not given notice on the debate of 2021 Auditor General's Report in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Opposition chief whip and Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said throughout the seven days of the session that started on Tuesday they did not receive any information that there was a Bill to be tabled.

He said the opposition was only informed a few days ago through a broadcast on the Malaysian Parliament' portal regarding the meeting's business arrangement which stated there was a proposal from the government to be presented by the minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

"In order to propose the report to be debated, it must be made by both the opposition and government supporters and then it must be answered by the government according to the ministries and voted on.

"That is a process in Parliament, we have raised earlier what is clearly stated in the Federal Constitution," he said during a press conference at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday.

Takiyuddin added based on Article 107 stated that the Auditor-General appointed by the government must submit a report yearly to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and present it to the Dewan Rakyat.

However, he said the practice in the Malaysian Parliament since the first session had never debated the report in Dewan Rakyat.

"On the other hand, if there is a reprimand from the auditor-general, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is responsible for calling witnesses including ministers to testify.

"Therefore today (Tuesday), we are disappointed because the deputy speaker allowed for the motion to be debated," he said.