The Malaysian Insider

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 - Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar adjourned Dewan Rakyat at 12.15pm today as the opposition refused to debate the 2009 Budget at the committee stage.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had initially questioned the legality of Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's new proposals yesterday.

"What was passed yesterday was the Aug 29 budget," the Ipoh Timur MP told the House, referring to Prime Minister and then Finance Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi's original budget. "It does not not include yesterday's suggestion. So do we debate it or ignore it completely? Was it an illegal Supplementary Budget?" he continued.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also added that it was unclear which figures would be debated.

"Today, at committee stage, what are we debating? Is the old estimates still in use or not?" the Permatang Pauh MP said.

"I am only asking that the Finance Minister give us the revised figures so we can debate at committee stage. I am not objecting to anything, but how can MPs debate when we are not sure which figures?" he continued.

However, Wan Junaidi ruled that what had been passed by the Dewan Rakyat could not be retracted.

"The issue was passed yesterday. If Dewan Rakyat has passed it, what other approval do we need? Principally it was passed. It is up to the ministry to release details," he said.

Lim refused to back down and called on Wan Junaidi to rule whether it was "irregular for a debate on proposals which were not officially tabled as amendments. That is why we have a speaker."

Pas secretary-general and Tumpat MP Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar also added that while the Aug 29 budget was presented with full documentation, Najib's proposal had not been distributed and tabled in Parliament.

"Irregularity does not cancel the meeting and the decision of the meeting. It was clear what the Finance Minister wanted to present," replied Wan Junaidi, claiming that no such convention was available over how such proposals should be presented.

However, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Pas-Kuala Selangor) pressed on the fact that a debate could not continue without the details.

As such, the deputy speaker decided to postpone proceedings, although at that point it was unclear even to MPs until when.

When asked by reporters later, Wan Junaidi confirmed that the House would resume proceedings at 2.30pm pending the details of Najib's proposals being furnished to the MPs.