Libaran MP in hospital, Saravanan was attending prayers, says Fahmi

2026-03-03 - 08:03

Umno’s Libaran MP Suhaimi Nasir and MIC’s Tapah MP M Saravanan were among eight government MPs who were absent during the bloc vote yesterday. SEPANG: Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil revealed that Libaran MP Suhaimi Nasir was unable to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting yesterday and vote for a bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure because he had been hospitalised. Fahmi said Tapah MP M Saravanan was also absent from yesterday’s sitting as he had to attend prayers. “I understand that the Libaran MP was in hospital, while the Tapah MP had informed us that he was attending some prayers,” he said in a press conference today. The Dewan Rakyat failed to pass a constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years after the vote fell short of the required two-thirds majority, yesterday evening. In the bloc vote, 146 MPs supported the bill, 44 abstained and 32 were absent. It needed at least 148 votes to meet the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendment. It was later reported that eight MPs from the government bloc were absent, while all Pakatan Harapan MPs were present and backed the bill. Apart from Suhaimi and Saravanan, the remaining six absentees were, Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong), Larry Sng (Julau), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Henry Sum Agong (Lawas), Riduan Rubin (Tenom) and former Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan (Keningau). MORE TO COME