DATUK Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) was ordered by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to leave the chamber and will be suspended for 10 days under Standing Order 42(2) for contempt of the House.
The decision was taken by Johari following last week’s incident in which Awang had challenged other MPs to a fight as he was walking out of the lower House.
When Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) questioned whether RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) would face the same fate, Johari referred to Standing Order 36(10)(c), stressing that MPs must refrain from using words that provoke hostility or resentment.
“Do not call PAS a deviant sect in this chamber. I know former prime ministers, including Pagoh and the then Langkawi MP, have said so – but they said it outside.
“Once you are in this House, enough. Do not say it anymore,” Johari said.
He further reminded lawmakers not to brand one another as “kafir”.
“Imagine families at home watching us calling each other ‘kafir’. To build a house takes a long time, but to burn it down is very fast,” he added.
Later in the afternoon, the Dewan Rakyat proceedings turned rowdy as a shouting match ensued, followed by another opposition lawmaker being booted out for two days.
As Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar was winding up on the debates related to his ministry, Datuk Dr Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) pressed for answers on why a non-Muslim consultancy was appointed for the rejuvenation of the Lembaga Tabung Haji brand.
In reply, the minister said there was a stringent process to adhere to prior to making any approvals.
“If I want to bring up such matters, 23 non-Muslim companies were also appointed when Pengkalan Chepa was the deputy Religious Affairs Minister,” said Mohd Na’im, resulting in cheers from the floor.
Ahmad Marzuk, however, did not take this lightly and again asked for an answer to his question. He also accused the minister of misleading the House.
“He’s not answering the questions and just spinning,” he said.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Alice Lau called for order and directed Ahmad Marzuk to take a seat. However, he continued to speak despite his microphone being switched off.
This led to Lau asking Ahmad Marzuk to leave the House for 30 minutes, with the latter, however, still continuing to speak.
“Earlier, I said it was 30 minutes, but you continued speaking without permission. Do you want two days?” she asked, with several voices heard cheering on.
“Okay, then two days it is,” she said, as the opposition MP was escorted out of the lower House.
At a press conference later, Ahmad Marzuk remained defiant, saying he was merely raising an issue concerning the Lembaga Tabung Haji brand rejuvenation process.
“But the minister chose not to answer my questions. It is also disappointing that I was ejected and suspended for two days.
“That is what happened at the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
