The Dewan Rakyat has approved the RM476.67 million allocation for the Plantation Industries and Commodity Ministry under the Committee Stage of the Supply Bill 2021.
Members of the Lower House of Parliament passed the financial bill allocation by a 13-vote majority after registering a 108-95 vote outcome in favour of the government.
The bloc-voting today had a difference, as vote-counters, accompanied by Sergeants-at-Arms were pressed into service during the process.
It was learnt that the vote counters and Sergeants-at-Arms were enlisted to ensure accurate reflection of the votes cast and prevent mistakes in the counting of those present.
Meanwhile, Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun said 17 Members of Parliament were not present in the Dewan Rakyat for the vote count for the ministry’s allocation.
Prior to the bloc voting, allocations for two ministries, namely, the Foreign Ministry (RM777.9 million) and National Unity Ministry (RM320.4 million) were approved through voice voting, in stark contrast to Monday’s approach for agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department and Finance Ministry, which saw bloc-voting being imposed.