KUCHING, Nov 26: Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that he is not afraid and always ready to answer any questions following a brief row with Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong in Parliament today.
In the Parliament sitting earlier, Alexander had raised his voice to tell off Khoo who had misunderstood his “smiling” reaction for not taking the latter’s questions on the “increase of egg prices” seriously.
“I reacted to argue with YB Khoo Poay Tiong due to provocation and baseless accusations thrown at me by the Kota Melaka MP.
“I was not laughing when YB Khoo directed the question regarding egg, but at that time, I was seated and gave a smile to attest a conversation with Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar,” he explained in a statement today.
Alexander, who is also Kapit MP, reiterated that the Ministry was always concerned and monitoring all issues related to consumers as well as goods in the market which the Ministry was tasked with.
During the sitting, Khoo had interjected to raise the egg prices issue noting that egg consumption among Malaysians was high.
“Is the Ministry examining why the price of eggs is increasing? Producers had to bear with the losses,” he claimed, before suddenly telling Alexander not to laugh as this was a serious problem.
Alexander stood up and countered: “Are you playing politics? Who is laughing? I am not laughing at your questions, I am smiling at other matters with my colleague next to me (Wan Junaidi).
“You are being narrow-minded, everything needs to be politicised. This accusation is not good. You have bad thoughts. I am not laughing at your questions,” he said.
Khoo hit back at Alexander: “Takut nak jawab ke nak politik kan isu” (afraid to answer or want to politicise the issue).
The Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon who disallowed the argument followed to mute the microphones and urged both parties to settle down so that sitting can continue.
Alexander (top) has a brief row with Khoo in Parliament today.
