By Shikin Louis
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2: Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau Kiong Yieng has suspended the session this afternoon following a shouting match between government and opposition Members of Parliament (MPs).
The chaos ensued when RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) raised issues related to a gold mining company developed by the Kelantan state government that was allegedly involved with issues related to the environment when debating the Audit (Amendment) Bill 2024.
Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) then interjected to question the relevance of the issue with the Bill, quoting Standing Order 36(6) which states that no member shall impute improper motives to any other member.
“What’s mentioned by Rayer does not have anything to do with the Bill.
“He is doing this intentionally; he is a bad boy. Previously he bashes United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), now he hugs and kisses UMNO,” Awang Hashim said.
The situation became worse when several other opposition members including Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) and Dato Khlir Mohd Nor (PN-Ketereh) rose up to question the same matter.
Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) also rose up to defend Rayer which angered the other side of the bench.
Following the ongoing quarrel, Lau announced the end of Rayer’s debate time before calling Awang Hashim for his turn to debate.
During Awang Hashim’s debate, he touched on the issue of the sale of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) shares to a company affiliated with BlackRock – an American asset management company with Pro-Israeli links.
From here, another interruption occurred when Awang Hashim refused to give way for interjections from the government MPs including Tan, Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) and Lee Chuan How (PH-Ipoh Timor).
Due to the ‘uncontrollable’ ordeal in the Dewan Rakyat, Alice then called for the debate session to end.
“I feel that Honourable Members are not interested to debate so the Dewan session today will be postponed to 10am tomorrow (July 3),” she said. — DayakDaily
