THE recitation of pantun during question-and-answer (Q&A) sessions will be decided by a Select Committee based on the Standing Orders of the august House.
Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar said the matter has been referred to the Select Committee under Standing Order 69 (2)(a) as these were pertinent issues.
“[Irene Chang (DAP-Bukit Assek) and David Wong (DAP-Pelawan)] had issued statements to the press on their dissatisfaction regarding the proceedings during question time.
“Views have been expressed on the one hour Q&A session that ministerial replies are too lengthy.
“The house is generously showered with pantun that supplementary questions from honorable members to the ministers are equally lengthy and that the Q&A do not reach the one hour limit period,” he said before the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting began today.
Asfia said a number of members resorted to pantun to add colour and flavour to the proceedings whilst others saw it as a waste of precious Q&A time.
He pointed out under the Standing Order 19 (5), any questions stated on the Order paper not reached during the time allotted shall lapse.
He added that under Standing Order 20 (2)(c), a question shall not contain any argument, inference, opinion, imputation or offensive expression.
“In other words, the question should be short, precise and dense. These are pertinent matters and under Standing Order 69 (2)(a), I shall refer this matter to the Select Committee for their consideration,” he clarified.
