Opposition lawmakers stage walkout after PAS’ Pengkalan Chepa MP ejected

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in Parliament, after PAS’ Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary was ejected following a heated shouting match with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
 
The incident was sparked when Lim was winding-up his speech on debates on the Supplementary Supply Bill on Tuesday (April 2).
Lim was clarifying claims made by Ahmad that bumiputra contractors were suffering under the new open tender system.
 
Ahmad claimed that the new system was open to all contractors, unlike the previous system, where it was only for Class F and G bumiputra contractors under the former Barisan Nasional government.
 
To this, Lim said that it was not right to play with such sentiments, saying that bumiputra contractors were also included under the current open tender.
 
"Previously there were just direct negotiations or tenders, where it would require to get the signatures of (Umno) division chiefs.
"Now the open tender system is for all bumiputra contractors," he said.
 
However, Ahmad disputed this and insisted that he had proof that the current system was open to all contractors, causing bumiputra contractors to lose out.
 
Lim, however, asked Ahmad to furnish evidence, which a dissatisfied Ahmad insisted that he had proof and wanted to read it out in the Dewan at the very moment.
 
A shouting match soon ensued between the two, with Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi (PAS-Tumpat) supporting Ahmad.
 
Lim then told Ahmad he could show the proof later outside the Dewan.
Another shouting match erupted as Ahmad said: "I am an 'anak jantan' and not a 'pondan' like Bagan."
 
This caused several Pakatan Harapan lawmakers calling on Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon to ask Ahmad to retract his statement.
 
Ahmad was adamant in insisting that he wanted to read the proof in the Dewan.
 
Mohd Rashid gave Ahmad three warnings for him to retract his statement before ejecting and suspending him from the august House for two days.
 
The Bill was eventually passed at the policy stage without any opposition.