Uproar in Dewan Rakyat over GE13 results remark
KUALA LUMPUR: An uproar broke out in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday when an opposition MP strayed beyond the subject matter.
Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras) drew the ire of Barisan Nasional members of parliament when he remarked that the ruling BN coalition lost the popular vote in the 13th General Election.
Tan was speaking during the 2018 Budget debate at the committee level for the Federal Territories Ministry.
Datuk Othman Abdul (BN-Pendang) immediately reminded Tan to stick to the subject matter.
However, Tan ignored him and continued to touch on the results of GE13, prompting Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) to interject.
“I think he must be dreaming. Which subject matter is he talking about?” Shamsul Anuar asked.
Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad (BNParit Sulong) also stood up and shouted at Tan, who continued to ignore the protests.
The fracas forced Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to step in.
He instructed the MPs to calm down.
Pandikar reminded the MPs to let the debate take its proper course and that they should wait for their turn to respond.
“That’s how we debate, not by hollering.”
He reminded Tan not to be provocative in his speech.
Several minutes later, Tan drew Pandikar’s ire over accusations of corruption against the federal territories minister, which led to another round of outrage from BN MPs. The speaker rebuked Tan for abusing Parliamentary immunity by making a slanderous statement in the Dewan Rakyat.
Tan remained stubborn despite being told to withdraw his accusations and only relented after repeated warnings from Pandikar.
“Don’t beat around the bush with me. If you don’t want to debate and refuse to take back your words, then I shall instruct you to leave,” he said.