Tajuddin to sue over Khalid’s remark

DATUK SERI Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who ran into controversy over his remark on the surname “Kok” in Parliament, wants to sue Opposition lawmaker Khalid Samad for using derogatory words on him.

The Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister responded angrily to media reports on the ruckus that erupted in Parliament over his reference to the surname of Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh).

Tajuddin accused reporters of being biased, saying they failed to report on Khalid (Amanah-Shah Alam) calling him “sial” (damned).

“Do you understand what the meaning of the word sial is? You don’t know. That is why you sided with other people (the Opposition) on petty issues.

“I said Teresa is the only woman with the name Kok. What is wrong with that? It is her surname,” he told reporters in Parliament yesterday.

Tajuddin also confirmed that he would sue Khalid for repeating his “menteri sial” remarks outside the Dewan Rakyat.

“My lawyer will handle it. By tomorrow (Wednesday), I will serve him a letter of demand,” he said.

Attempts by Opposition lawmaker Kasthuri Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan) to cite Tajuddin, for disciplinary action over his Kok remark fell flat.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said there was no need to refer Tajuddin to the Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee as the matter had been resolved.

A war of words erupted in the Dewan on Monday when Tajudddin said that Teresa Kok was “the only woman with a ‘Kok’ is Seputeh”.

Several Opposition MPs demanded Tajuddin retract the word but he insisted that he was only referring to the Seputeh MP’s surname.