KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) was told to leave the Dewan Rakyat until after the lunch break on Thursday (Oct 12) when he refused to retract a remark about Dr Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani).
Awang also labelled the ruling by Deputy Speaker Ramli Mohd Nor, allowing Taufiq’s motion on the issue of rice hoarding to be raised in the Special Chambers as a “conflict of interest”.
This came after Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) questioned why Taufiq’s motion, filed on Wednesday (Oct 11), went through while he was denied the right to have his motion debated despite filing it a day earlier.
Awang was then heard saying "anak bapa" (father's son) in reference to Taufiq, the son of Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Some MPs asked Awang to retract his statement, with Taufiq telling him to behave professionally and explain his remarks.
Dismissing Awang’s conflict of interest allegations, Deputy Speaker Alice Lau said Johari had instructed Ramli to decide on Taufiq’s motion.
Awang remained defiant, saying: “Everyone is their father’s child. Why is he offended?"
Lau ordered Awang to retract the remarks, but he refused.
She then ordered him to leave the House, saying: "Come back after lunch."
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin held that Ramli had to make a decision because of a conflict of interest.
“For me, it is not wrong... the Deputy Speaker had to make the decision because he (Taufiq) was his father’s son. Why is he not admitting that he is his father’s son?” Hamzah asked.
He said Awang would not have raised the matter without a conflict of interest.
“What is the problem if we just accept that there is a conflict of interest and accept the Deputy Speaker’s decision? Arau is just asking why there was no decision on his motion.
“Why are we arguing over this? Let us just move on,” he said.
Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PH-Kuala Selangor) asked if Taufiq and Shahidan had raised the same issue.
“If Arau’s issue is also related to hoarding of rice and is the same as Sungai Petani’s, then it is (a case of) double standards. But if it is not the same, then it is not," he said
Lau then said no conflict of interest was involved as Ramli made the decision.
The House then continued with the order of business after Awang was told to leave.
