KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition MP Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah has retracted the use of the word 'sial' after strident objection from government backbenchers in Dewan Rakyat.
The Langkawi MP was reading out an online message through his mobile phone, criticising the opposition for abstaining during Tuesday’s (March 4) bloc vote on the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2025, related to the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA) Bill.
"Betapa sialnya apa yang berlaku ini (How unlucky are the happenings now)." said Mohd Suhaimi.
Later, Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) stood up, citing Standing Order 36(4) which prohibits MPs from using offensive language or making sexist remarks.
Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, who was presiding over the Dewan, asked Mohd Suhaimi to retract his statement.
However, Suhaimi insisted that he did not do anything wrong, as he had meant it differently.
“I said the word because I looked at the definition of it - not profitable, always failing in getting something, unlucky, frequently impaired by accidents and always in the dumps.
“The word fits because Tuesday we failed (to stop the constitutional amendments) and sometimes we’re in hardships because the speaker does not side with us.
"That is why I used the word,” Suhaimi said.
However, he was told to retract it, to which Suhami agreed to do so.
“I’ll add the word to the list of things I can’t say in the Dewan”.
