For whom the bell tolls

PANIC reigned in the Parliament lobby as the bell rang – for the first time in a long while – at 11.45am.

Ministers and other MPs rushed into the Dewan when quorum was called for a block voting.

Some Opposition MPs, who had been talking to the press in the lobby, also quickly made their way in.

Jaws dropped as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, accompanied by his retinue of bodyguards, strode quickly from his office in the Parliament tower towards the Dewan.

He was followed by his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak about five minutes later.

The block voting, on an item in the Supplementary Supply Bill, saw it being passed at 92 votes with 60 against. One person did not vote.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said he was in Dewan Negara waiting for a question on his portfolio to be fielded when he heard the bell.

“I had to rush out. I have to divide my time between the two Houses and I have overlapping duties. The Opposition should not do this,” he said.

At the Parliament lobby, PKR chief whip Azmin Ali said the voting was a moral victory for the Opposition.

“It is the first time you see the Prime Minister running into the Dewan,” said Azmin, adding that there were only about 10 Barisan MPs in the Dewan when the block voting was called.