Opposition lawmaker proposes amendments to curb offensive remarks in Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition lawmaker has submitted a proposal to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to amend the Standing Orders to allow stronger action to be taken against lawmakers who make offensive, racist and sexist remarks in Parliament.

Kasthuri Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) proposed an addition of two clauses to Standing Order 36 to state that MPs who make sexist, racist or offensive statements should be automatically referred to the Committee of Privileges and fined RM500 if found guilty by the committee.

“We have the Standing Orders which can define these unparliamentary words, but if there is no enforcement it means nothing.

“This is important and historical because we no longer want to see MPs coming out with offensive and unparliamentary comments, which also has an effect on society out there.

"I hope that the Speaker will take these amendments into serious consideration as it is clear and straightforward. This is so Malaysians will be convinced that racist and sexist remarks will be a thing of the past after the stern order made by the Speaker to Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim," she said during a press conference here in Parliament.

Kasturi had previously accused Abdul Azeez of allegedly making a racist and sexist remark against her in the Dewan Rakyat.

During the sitting on Tuesday (July 14), Abdul Azeez then apologised and retracted his remarks after being ordered by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.

She explained that she was proposing the amendments as the current provisions under Clauses 80(1) and 80A of the Standing Orders were too general and did not stop lawmakers from making such remarks.

Kasthuri also said it would be better for Azhar to carry this motion to the Standing Orders Committee as its chairman instead of making her submit a motion in the Dewan Rakyat.

She noted that it was the responsibility of the Speaker to ensure that future MPs would not suffer from being the target of offensive remarks.