KUALA LUMPUR: Tensions rose sharply in the Dewan Rakyat after Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan made remarks aimed at Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari during the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
The exchange on Monday (Aug 4) began when Ahmad Fadhli called on the government to consider building a new highway linking Gerik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
He said the current route, Federal Route 4, also known as the East-West Highway, was a narrow two-lane road without a divider, prone to accidents and often used by roaming elephants.
Mohd Sany then stood up to ask why the project was not pursued when Perikatan Nasional (PN) was in power.
“I just want to ask Pasir Mas, earlier you mentioned elephants, but you didn’t mention apes and goats.
“Also, didn’t you ask for this highway when your coalition was in government?” he said.
The remarks came amid ongoing controversy surrounding Ahmad Fadhli’s recent Facebook post, which depicted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and two regional leaders as caricatures of animals. He has been urged to apologise for allegedly mocking Malaysia’s efforts to broker peace between Thailand and Cambodia.
Ahmad Fadhli responded by saying the question matched the person asking it.
“Those animal names are quite fitting. You can include them in Hulu Langat’s speech next time. Sometimes, the question really does reflect the person asking it,” he said.
The comment triggered a row, with Mohd Sany demanding a retraction.
“I asked respectfully. We’re friends. You’re from PAS, an Islamic party. That comment was rude and inappropriate,” he said.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul then stepped in, saying that: “There’s no need to talk about goats, camels, monkeys or cows. Everyone, sit down and carry on with the debate.”
Ahmad Fadhli then resumed his speech, criticising the lack of clear allocations for Kelantan in the 13MP.
He said that while the state was mentioned in several strategic sectors, there were no figures or firm financial commitments.
