Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Parliament: Business as usual for SAPP MP


By LEE YUK PENG and SIM LEOI LEOI

KUALA LUMPUR: Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbun was spotted in Parliament about two weeks after his party - Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) - threatened a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister.

The MP, who came early in the morning, attended the question and answer session as well as part of the debate on the Mid-Term Review report.

He was seen shaking hands and exchanging jokes with his other Barisan Nasional colleagues before the session began, and again, in the MPs' lounge.

Among the MPs seen with him were Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN – Kalabakan), Datuk Tekhee@Tiki Lafe (BN - Mas Gading) and Aaron Ago Dagang (BN - Kanowit).

When approached in the lobby, Eric said he had been attending the Dewan Rakyat sitting since Monday.

His colleague Chua Soon Bui (BN - Tawau) was not present in Dewan on Tuesday.
However, those hoping to see signs of any crossing over from SAPP MPs to Pakatan Rakyat were bound to be disappointed as the MP only gave non-committal replies to queries.

Asked whether he was in Parliament to table the no-confidence motion, Eric replied: "Wait and see."

To a question on what he was waiting for, Eric merely said: "For the right time. You see, my colleague is still on medical leave."

Asked if he would need Chua to be present in the House when tabling the motion to give a forceful impact, Eric said there was no need.

"Just wait and see."

Eric said he might even participate in the debate on the motion of the Mid-Term Review report if "given the chance."

He also denied he was one of the Barisan MPs touted to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat - as mentioned by de-facto Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Neither Chua nor I ever have the intention of crossing over. That matter does not even arise. We don't know who is," he said.

Asked if it would be difficult for him and Chua to survive as independent MPs, Eric said he received the mandate from the people.

"So, it's up to the people to decide," he said.

No auto registration for votersTHE Government is not ready to implement the automatic registration for voters who have reached 21 years old, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abd Aziz.

In his written reply to Teresa Kok (DAP - Seputeh), Nazri said this was due to the fact that most Malaysians did not reside at the address stated in their identity cards.

"If automatic registration is used, it will be a hassle for voters themselves.
"The voters would be registered based on the address on the identity card and this does not comply with the Constitution which requires a resident to cast their vote in their area.

"Voters will have a tough time locating the polling stations as the names are not listed in the area where they reside,'' Nazri said.

He also said the voting percentage could be affected.

Rafidah on leave

TAN SRI Rafidah Aziz, who is the Kuala Kangsar MP, has been granted leave from attending proceedings at the Dewan Rakyat this entire meeting.

Announcing this, Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Rafidah would be on leave from June 26 until the last day of the Parliamentary meeting.
However, he did not give any reason for the leave.

Rafidah, who has been absent since last Monday, was not able to vote during the Government motion on price increases.

Her leave comes at a time when the High Court in Ipoh is expected to decide this Friday whether to hear an election petition challenging the results of the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary constituency.

Rafidah has been named as the first respondent in the petition after she is said to have failed to sign two of the three sets of her nomination papers in the last general election.

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