PETALING JAYA: A project under the Transport Ministry that required immediate attention led to his absence at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, says minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       “I had an official engagement in Johor Baru for a project under the ministry that needed immediate attention.

       “I went over to the site to solve the people’s problem. Relax bro!” he said in a Facebook post in response to Seremban MP Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who had questioned Dr Wee’s absence from yesterday’s Dewan Rakyat sitting.

       Loke had asked Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong, who was in the House, to respond to his question on the implementation of the etesting or automated driving test system, whether the minister had placed a greater priority on the Johor election instead of his parliamentary duty.

       In his Facebook post, Dr Wee said the Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat was held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and not Wednesdays.

       Yesterday’s oral question session could be addressed by the minister or the deputy, he said, adding that this was allowed under Parliament Standing Orders.

       “It looks like this DAP leader has truly run out of issues. What is there to be disputed when I have checked the response and my deputy was able to answer the question?” he said.

       Dr Wee paid a visit to Kampung Melayu near Jalan Tiong, Johor Baru, to monitor the latest development of the Gemas-JB double-tracking project and the drainage problem there which had led to floods at two neighbourhoods and a squatter area near Sungai Tebrau a few days ago.

       The issue was brought to his attention by former Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, he said, adding that he had promised to make a site visit to look for a solution to the flood problem.

       He said project contractor SIPP-YTL JV and a drainage engineer from the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) were also present.

       Dr Wee, who is Ayer Itam MP, said he had asked Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak to hold a special meeting with the project contractor, consultant, MBJB’s engineer and representatives of the local community to find a long-term solution to the problem.