Wednesday June 24, 2009
Touchy DNA bill passed
By LEE YUK PENG, ZULKIFLI AB RAHMAN, SIM LEOI LEOI and ZALINAH NOORDIN
THE controversial DNA Identification Bill 2008 was passed with amendments after a two-day debate at the committee stage.
Marked by a ferocious debate at the policy stage last year, the Bill was passed with nine amendments. Among others, it included Clause 7 on a provision to replace police officers as Forensic DNA chief, deputy chief and officers.
The Bill went through two rounds of bloc division (voting) on Monday and yesterday. Several proposals from Opposition MPs – Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), Dr Mohd Hayati Othman (PAS-Pendang), Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) and Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang) to amend the Bill were all shot down except for one.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop’s proposal to delete a particular clause that was similar to Teo’s proposal went through.
Dr Mohd Hatta, however, withdrew his proposal to amend parts of the Bill without giving any reasons.
The second round of bloc voting was called when Barisan MPs, who are used to shouts of “setuju”, accidentally agreed to the motion put by the Opposition.
As usual, the backbenchers would give a sound “setuju” to support the Bill but this time, it was an Opposition MP’s motion.
Sensing something amiss, Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, who was chairing then, suggested bloc division to solve the confusion saying that he heard “setuju” from both sides.
Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) was quick to respond by asking for it and said that there could be some confusion among the MPs.
When the bell rang, many were seen rushing in.
Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), including its chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid, who were at their PAC meeting, held in Parliament building, left midway to get into the House to make up the number.
Kiandee announced the result as 99 Barisan Nasional MPs vs 57 Pakatan MPs.
On Monday, clause 1, 2 and 3 of the DNA Identification Bill was passed with only a one-vote majority.
A total of 48 Barisan MPs were present when Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) called for bloc division with 47 Pakatan MPs around.
The DNA Bill is aimed at setting up the forensic DNA Databank Malay-sia.
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