Opposition walks out after Speaker rejects deferment of special Tabung Haji RCI sitting

Opposition lawmakers walked out of a special parliamentary sitting on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji almost immediately. Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, the Opposition’s chief whip, said the sitting should be postponed until the prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, is fit and resumes his duties as he is currently recovering from an elective laparoscopic surgery.

Takiyuddin argued that debating without the prime minister is akin to a press conference. The Speaker confirmed that the session was merely a ministerial briefing and that there would be no voting today. Arau MP Shahidan Kassim questioned the absence of clarifications from Lim Guan Eng, who served as finance minister in the first Pakatan Harapan government, as the RCI report covered the period from 2014 to 2020.

A brief commotion erupted between Shahidan and Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul clarified that the sitting would proceed as per Standing Order 11(3) and that Cabinet ministers represented the government in Anwar’s absence. Takiyuddin also questioned why the report was not tabled and debated before it was declassified for public consumption.

Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin questioned Anwar's rationale for releasing the report now, suggesting it could undermine Malays' confidence. When asked if Bersatu would join the walkout, Hamzah said he was unsure, as the decision was still being discussed among Pas and Parti Wawasan Negara members.