KUALA LUMPUR: MPs who lie in Parliament will go to hell, stated Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul during a heated session on Wednesday (Dec 11).
His remark followed a chaotic eight-minute shouting match in the Dewan Rakyat after bloc voting concluded for the contentious Online Safety Bill.
The disorder began when RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) asked Johari if he could suspend MPs whom he claimed were "not serious with Dewan Rakyat proceedings."
"May I request that MPs who are not serious with Dewan Rakyat proceedings like the opposition, who always request for bloc voting, to be suspended?" Rayer asked Johari.
This comment sparked immediate anger from opposition MPs, with Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) shouting "kurang ajar" at Rayer.
"Ini dah kurang ajar ni, Jelutong kurang ajar ni mencemur pembangkang (This is rude, Jelutong has rudely antagonised the opposition)," Che was heard shouting.
Johari attempted to deescalate the situation and eventually asked Rayer to withdraw his statement, which Rayer did.
"Even if they called for bloc voting, it is their right as MPs. Whatever is asked of in parliament, as long as it is enshrined in the Constitution, I will entertain it for the sake of fairness," Johari told Rayer.
The tension subsided following a calm explanation by Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) on the opposition's rationale for calling a bloc vote on the Online Safety Bill.
However, peace was short-lived as tensions rose again when Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) accused Che of calling Rayer "kurang ajar" and demanded a retraction.
Johari asked Che to confirm if he had used the term "kurang ajar," to which Che replied "no."
This led Chong to accuse Che of lying in Parliament.
"Lying is a sin, do not lie in the Dewan Rakyat. This will enter the Hansard (a record of parliamentary proceedings). Everyone heard. Besut lied, he is a liar, he has the guts to lie in Parliament," Chong exclaimed.
The situation escalated with more MPs joining the fray and an unknown MP calling for Chong to be expelled from the Dewan Rakyat.
In a commanding tone, Johari addressed Chong, urging him to calm down.
"The one who is presiding over this Dewan is me, I did not hear him say the word ('kurang ajar') which is why I asked him and he said he did not.
"If he is lying, he will go to neraka (hell), don't worry about that, we will meet him in akhirat (afterlife) tomorrow," Johari said, effectively ending the chaos.
