Dewan Rakyat Speaker rejects motion to debate temple riot issue

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohammad Arrif Md Yusoff has rejected two separate emergency motions submitted by Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional lawmakers to debate the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riot in USJ 25, Subang Jaya.

Mohd Ariff announced this on Thursday (Nov 29) when answering a question from Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (BN-Beluran) on whether the opposition's proposal was rejected and the same query put forward by Pakatan Harapan MPs was accepted.

"No. They have also been informed. Both proposals are rejected," said Mohd Ariff.

On Tuesday, MPs from both sides submitted separate motions over the matter to Mohd Ariff.

Earlier, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin were given time to present their statements on the issue under Standing Order 14(i) in the Dewan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai), who had submitted the emergency motion for the Pakatan lawmakers, said he agreed with the Speaker's decision.

Confirming that his motion was rejected in chambers, Fahmi said that Malaysians had already received their answers from the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

Also at the Parliament lobby, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said it was an apt and timely move to brief Parliament on the recent riots at the temple.

"The statement by the Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is very timely as Parliament is the most appropriate venue for the government to give its official view on the matter.

"And this was followed by a strong statement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"This is how it should be done as it sends a clear and strong signal that the incident was not racial but a dispute over land ownership," he told reporters.