KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Johari Abdul says he is disappointed that Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) had publicly disclosed a request for mediation without giving him time to respond.
The Dewan Rakyat Speaker had earlier given Takiyuddin until Thursday (Oct 22) to withdraw controversial remarks made during a previous sitting, following a complaint from RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong).
Johari said that Takiyuddin had written a letter to him on Thursday, saying that he refused to withdraw his remarks and proposed mediation involving the Speaker, Rayer and himself.
He said the letter arrived at his office at 5pm that day, although he only read it on Friday (Oct 23).
He expressed disappointment that Takiyuddin had made the matter public on Saturday (Oct 24), before he had the opportunity to respond.
"I find this rather disappointing. When he wrote to me, he should have allowed me to respond first, whether to agree or disagree with his proposal.
"Instead, he went public, putting me in a rather difficult position where I was pressured to respond," he said.
Explaining his earlier directive for Takiyuddin to withdraw the remarks, Johari said the Kota Baru MP had quoted a hadith describing three signs of a hypocrite.
Although the hadith itself did not refer to Anwar, Johari said Takiyuddin had immediately linked its contents to the Prime Minister's Budget 2027 speech, particularly the Arabic word wa'ad, meaning promise.
He said the context of the remarks suggested that the reference to hypocrisy was directed at Anwar.
"When we look at the conversation as a whole, it clearly appears to refer to the Prime Minister, even though the hadith itself does not," he said.
The issue was initially raised by Rayer under Standing Order 36(4), which prohibits MPs from using offensive or improper language in the House.
On Monday (Oct 26), Rayer told the Dewan Rakyat that he wanted Takiyuddin referred to Parliament's Rights and Privileges Committee over his refusal to withdraw his remarks, despite being instructed to do so by the Speaker.
"I believe he should be referred to the committee," Rayer told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
He also criticised Takiyuddin for publicly disclosing his request for mediation before Johari had responded to his letter.
Johari subsequently instructed Rayer to submit a formal written request to refer Takiyuddin to the committee.
He said the committee, whose members comprise representatives from both sides of the political divide, would then consider the matter.
"The decision will not be mine. It will be made by the committee, which comprises members from both sides.
"Once the committee has made its decision, I will only announce it. Do not blame me or criticise me publicly because it will be the committee's decision," he said.
