Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) was asked to leave the Dewan Rakyat until after the lunch break on Thursday (Oct 12) when he refused to retract a remark about Dr Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani).
Awang criticized Deputy Speaker Ramli Mohd Nor’s ruling, which allowed Taufiq’s motion on rice hoarding to be raised in the Special Chambers, and labeled it as a “conflict of interest”.
This incident occurred after Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) questioned why Taufiq’s motion, filed on Wednesday (Oct 11), was approved while his motion was denied despite being filed a day earlier.
Awang then referred to Taufiq as “anak bapa” (father’s son), indirectly referencing Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Taufiq’s father.
Some MPs urged Awang to withdraw his statement, with Taufiq requesting an explanation for his remarks in a professional manner.
Deputy Speaker Alice Lau dismissed Awang’s allegations of a conflict of interest, stating that Johari instructed Ramli to handle Taufiq’s motion.
Awang persisted, questioning why Taufiq was offended when everyone is their father’s child.
Lau ordered Awang to retract his remarks, but he refused.
She then instructed him to leave the House, stating, “Come back after lunch.”
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin argued that Ramli had to make a decision due to a conflict of interest.
Hamzah questioned, “For me, it is not wrong… the Deputy Speaker had to make the decision because he (Taufiq) was his father’s son. Why is he not admitting that he is his father’s son?”
He claimed that Awang would not have raised the issue if there wasn’t a conflict of interest.
Hamzah suggested accepting the conflict of interest and the Deputy Speaker’s decision instead of further argumentation.
Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PH-Kuala Selangor) asked if Taufiq and Shahidan had raised the same issue.
He said, “If Arau’s issue is also related to hoarding of rice and is the same as Sungai Petani’s, then it is (a case of) double standards. But if it is not the same, then it is not.”
Lau clarified that no conflict of interest existed as Ramli made the decision.
The House proceeded with its agenda after Awang was instructed to leave.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
