KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat today, refusing to participate in a ministerial briefing on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH).
The walkout followed rising tensions over Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s refusal to postpone the session due to the absence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Unfazed by the opposition’s pushback, Johari allowed the lawmakers to leave and ordered the sitting to proceed as scheduled.
“If anyone wants to leave, leave. If anyone wants to stay, stay. Because the public is watching you. Fine, those who feel they do not want to discuss this and do not think this is important, please leave,” Johari remarked before calling on Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan to deliver the briefing.
The standoff began when Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chief Whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan raised Standing Orders to propose postponing the special sitting. He cited the absence of both Anwar and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who are currently receiving medical treatment.
However, Johari stood firm, emphasizing that the Prime Minister’s absence did not invalidate the proceedings since the government was officially represented by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi alongside other Cabinet members.
“To ask why the PM is not here, we have DPM Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi here. Are you trying to downgrade the position of the DPM? He is here representing the Cabinet, and the other ministers are also here representing the Cabinet,” Johari asserted.
He reminded the opposition that MPs would still have ample opportunity to raise issues regarding Tabung Haji through two other key platforms, including the upcoming Budget tabling scheduled for October.
Furthermore, Johari noted that the matter could be further scrutinized at the committee level.
“In fact, the Special Select Committee can pick up what we have discussed, draw up a resolution and call whoever…I have made my decision to proceed with the special sitting,” he declared. – August 11, 2026