Shouting match in Parliament after Shahidan claims DAP wanted to shut down Kemas

KUALA LUMPUR: A shouting match by MPs across the divide was triggered in the Dewan Rakyat after Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) claimed that DAP was planning to shut down the Community Development Department (Kemas).

The incident occurred during the Audit (Amendment) Bill 2024 debate when Shahidan said an audit should be carried out to ascertain if government agencies had received Opposition MPs’ allocations.

“DAP (wanted) to shut down Kemas. So we fought and defended Kemas,” he said on Wednesday (July 3).

Several backbenchers questioned his claims.

“Since when did DAP want to shut down Kemas? We never (said that),” said Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh).

RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) then raised Standing Order 36(6), which says MPs are not allowed to impute improper motives to any other member.

Several MPs were also heard telling Shahidan to retract his remarks.

“What is there to retract here? I want to settle this nicely,” Shahidan replied.

The back-and-forth went on for about five minutes before Deputy Speaker Alice Lau, who was chairing the session at the time, told Shahidan to prove his allegations.

Shahidan explained that he intended to say that the former Pakatan Harapan administration wanted to shut down Kemas and that DAP had backed that idea.

“That is not what you said earlier,” said Lau, who added that Shahidan contradicted his initial remarks.

Kok and Rayer were not impressed by Shahidan’s explanation and demanded a retraction from him.

The shouting match then continued for several minutes before Shahidan retracted his statement.

Lau then told Rayer to file a motion to refer Shahidan to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee before allowing Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) to debate the Bill.

The current Dewan Rakyat meeting, which began on June 24, continues until July 18.

Kemas, an agency under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, was created to empower rural communities and uplift living standards.