KUALA LUMPUR: The proceedings in Dewan Rakyat were temporarily disrupted when an Opposition MP raised questions about Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s recent statement that more Perikatan Nasional MPs would pledge support for the government. During the Budget 2024 debates at the committee level, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) interjected and questioned the issue of education and principles while Rural and Regional Development Minister Ahmad Zahid was winding up.
He specifically asked if changing principles relates to transforming minds, alluding to Ahmad Zahid’s statement that more Opposition MPs would pledge support for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
Shahidan later brought up RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) and accused him of not apologizing for calling Umno “damned (celaka).”
Rayer retaliated by asking Shahidan to retract his statement and apologize. Shahidan defended himself by stating that he did not call Umno “celaka” but was merely quoting Rayer’s previous statement. He added that Umno would soon join the Opposition.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor ruled for Shahidan to retract his statement, stating that even though he quoted Jelutong as saying it, he was the one who mentioned it.
Shahidan then retracted his statement while continuing to defend himself. He also filed a special motion to debate the four Bersatu MPs who declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, expressing his concern that allocations were being used to entice Opposition MPs to support Anwar.
