KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 -- The government's failure to muster enough votes to pass the crucial Constitutional Amendment Bill, which would limit the Prime Minister's tenure, has placed the role of the parliamentary "whip" into sharp focus.

The government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was just two votes short of the 148 supermajority ballots needed for the Bill's passage, fuelling claims of disorganisation on the part of party whips from the ruling alliance.

Communication Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil later explained that several government MPs cited "unavoidable" circumstances for their absence, with some saying they were stuck in evening rush-hour traffic.

Malay Mail spoke to former two-term MP and ex-deputy minister Ong Kian...