Dewan Rakyat passes Supply Bill 2016

The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Supply Bill 2016 in principle with a large number of votes.

The Bill was passed for the second reading after a total of 128 members of Parliament (MPs) voted in support of it versus the 74 who opposed.

The bloc division voting was conducted by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia following several members of Parliament from the opposition parties who wanted the vote conducted.

Meanwhile, six PAS members of parliament abstained from voting. They are Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Bharu), Nik Mohd Abduh Nik Aziz (PAS-Pasir Mas), Nasaruddin Hassan (PAS-Temerloh), Idris Ahmad (PAS-Bukit Gantang), Marzuki Shaari (PAS-Bachok) and Dr Izani Hussin (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa).

Four other Pas members of Parliament, including the PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang did not attend the afternoon Parliament session today.

Also present during the voting were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Also participating was former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The bill was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Oct 23, debated for six days starting from Oct 26 before winding up at the ministerial level for three days, and passed today in principle.

The bill, which seeks to provide a total of RM267.22 billion for government expenditure in 2016 is scheduled to be debated at the committee level beginning tomorrow.

Meanwhile, according to Deputy Speaker of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, the bill would only be fully approved after a debate and winding up at the committee stage and and read for the third time.

The sitting resumes Tuesday.