PH MPs need a backbencher chief: Khalid Samad

KUALA LUMPUR: A backbencher chief needs to be appointed for Pakatan Harapan (PH) MP's, to ensure the quorum for the Dewan Rakyat sessions are met, said Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad.
He said that ensuring attendance is up will be the first order of business for the backbencher chief.
Khalid also said that the issue of attendance is a "cheap shot" by opposition members to the government as the lack of quorum also meant that there was not enough opposition members in the house on Tuesday when it was delayed for six minutes.
"This is a cheap shot. The quorum is the responsibility of both government and opposition.
"Quorum usually takes to account for both sides, government and opposition. If there is not enough quorum, the opposition also does not have enough members."
"This is not something to play around with debates on the Royal Address happening now," he added.
He further said the opposition was only playing up the matter for cheap political mileage.
Khalid admitted that he too was absent from the meeting.
"I received an official visit from the Perak MB relating to Sukma19. There is 39 days to go for Sukma. The meeting was held at 12pm in Putrajaya," he added.
On Tuesday (July 24), the Dewan Rakyat was forced to halt proceedings temporarily due to a lack of quorum. The delay only lasted several minutes but the matter was widely spread on social media.
Pictures tweeted by Tan Sri Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh) at various times showed an almost empty hall.
Under Standing Orders 13, there must be at least 26 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan to allow proceedings to be held.
PKR chief whip Datuk Johari Abdul told reporters that Pakatan backbenchers had to attend a pre-council meeting in one of the committee rooms in Parliament.
Some were already on their way to the Dewan when they heard the second bell, he said.