KUALA LUMPUR: Pendang MP Datuk Awang Hashim was ordered out of the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 2) after repeatedly disrupting proceedings during the debate on the Bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor made the ruling after briefly adjourning the sitting to consider Awang’s conduct.
Ramli said he was acting under Standing Order 44, which allows the chair to suspend an MP for up to 10 days for refusing to comply with directions in the House.
“Nevertheless, I have taken into account the surrounding circumstances, the time and context of the debate, and the fact that this is the fasting month.
"Accordingly, I direct the Honourable Member to leave the House until the voting session on the Bill shortly,” he said while presiding over the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Monday.
Awang complied with the order to leave the House, but asked to be allowed back in briefly to debate the Bill before exiting again, a request which Ramli later agreed to.
Tensions had flared earlier when RSN Rayer (PH–Jelutong), speaking in support of the term limit Bill, revisited the 2020 Sheraton Move and alleged that a democratically elected government had been “stolen” and Parliament later suspended by a prime minister “not chosen through a democratic mandate”.
The comments sparked loud objections from opposition MPs, with Awang leading the charge and accusing Rayer of making serious, unfounded allegations against a former prime minister.
The back and forth soon descended into a shouting match, prompting Ramli to repeatedly remind MPs to abide by the Standing Orders if they wished to challenge his rulings.
The Dewan had resumed debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill to cap the prime minister’s tenure at 10 years, through changes to Article 43 of the Federal Constitution.
The Bill, tabled for first reading on Feb 23 by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, requires a two-thirds majority to pass.
Some 40 MPs took part in Monday’s debate.
