Pendang MP suspended three days over statement against Rayer

Datuk Awang Hashim.-filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) has been suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for three days after refusing to retract his statement accusing RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) of being anti-Islam.

In a tense exchange on Monday (July 15), Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor gave Awang the opportunity to retract his statement thrice before reaching the decision.

“Let’s not accuse one another. Do you see the public seated in the gallery? Is this what we want to portray to others?

“Please retract your statement,” he said.

'Awang stood firm and refused.

“I’m sorry but I won’t do it. Jelutong is anti-Islam. I (stand by) my principles,” Awang said.

Ramli then asked Awang three times if he would retract his statement.

“Press the microphone and say it,” Ramli ordered, but Awang still refused.

“Three days. Sergeant at arms, please escort him out of the House,” Ramli said.

This came after DAP’s Rayer earlier cited Standing Orders and claimed the Opposition disrespected proceedings on Thursday (July 11) when taking Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to task over not vacating the seats of six former Bersatu MPs and labelling them as “enam jahanam” (the damned six).

Rayer also singled out Awang who he claimed had uttered malicious remarks against the six despite being a PAS representative.

Awang interjected and accused Rayer of being anti-Islam, claiming DAP protected the rights of gamblers in Kedah.

Earlier this month, the Alor Setar High Court ruled that the decision by the Kedah government to cease issuing and renewing local business premises licences for number forecast operators is unconstitutional.

Justice Mahazan Mat Taib delivered the judgment on June 20, ruling in favour of the representatives of three betting companies that sued the Kedah government, Sin Chew Daily reported.

The High Court also ordered the defendants – the Kedah government, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Alor Setar City Council, and its mayor Datuk Mohd Yusri Md Daud – to compensate the plaintiffs for their losses.