Use vulgarities again and you’re out, warns Speaker

MEMBERS of the Dewan Rakyat were issued a stern and final warning by Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof ( pix) not to utter anymore vulgarities in the august House or face immediate ejection and further disciplinary action.

His ruling was in response to the conduct of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), who uttered “f*** you” to the opposing bench during Parliament proceedings on Tuesday.

“I would like to stress that the use of foul and vulgar language is not allowed in the Dewan, and action will be taken against those who use it.

“I repeat myself, if such words are uttered again, I will not hesitate to take action including ordering the person’s ejection or any other actions deemed appropriate, regardless of the political party.

“On Kinabatangan specifically, if he repeats his conduct in the future, he will be immediately kicked out of the Dewan. This (ruling) serves as a reminder to all,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. The Dewan Rakyat erupted in chaos after Bung Moktar shouted the F-word twice at Willie Mongin (PH-Puncak Borneo) during a debate on the sales and services tax, and accused Mongin of acquiring prostitutes.

His statement came after Mongin questioned if Bung Moktar was in a casino recently. Bung Moktar later retracted his use of the F-word.

However, Bung Moktar’s inappropriate use of offensive language was not the only such incident in what has been a profanityladen parliamentary sitting.

Just a day prior, Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad (BN-Lipis) and R.S.N. Rayer (PHJelutong) traded profanities, with Abdul Rahman uttering the word p*****k and the latter using the term “kepala bapak kamu” (your father’s head).

On July 18, Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Gelugor) was ejected from the House after he refused to retract the word “samseng” (gangster).

Disasatisfied with Mohamad Ariff’s ruling yesterday, Ramkarpal pleaded for the Speaker to take a similar action and suspend Bung Moktar for a certain period of time and not let him off with a mere warning.

“Disciplinary action (ejection) was taken against me for using the word gangster, which pales in comparison to the four-letter word Kinabatangan said. No doubt he retracted. But if no further action is taken, then this will create a precedence that any MP can utter vulgarities, retract it, and get away with it,” he said.

To this, Mohamad Ariff said: “My ruling is meant for both sides, and as for Kinabatangan, it remains as a final warning not to repeat it.”