[UPDATED] English-only bills rile up Dewan

KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat today witnessed a commotion for nearly half an hour over the government’s inclusion of English-only text in two bills, with opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru-PN) questioning if this is part of a bigger attempt to make English the country’s official language. 

The ensuing shouting match saw Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (Besut-PN) being handed out a three-day suspension for repeatedly interrupting proceedings.

The ruckus started when Takiyuddin, who is PAS secretary-general raised a point of order in the House, questioning the government’s decision to table two bills, containing large portions of text in English without Malay translation as per convention. 

They are the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill 2023 and Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2023, both focusing on the crime of stalking. 

Calling it bemusing, Takiyuddin claimed that the bills are only in English despite both codes having Malay translations.

“If these bills are passed without a Malay translation, and they are to be included in the Malay version of the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), how then? This is not in order,” he said in Parliament today. 

“I did not expect this ‘Madani’ government to want to change its policy so that Bahasa Malaysia is no longer the official language, especially with the prime minister being the biggest advocate of the Malay language.”

Takiyuddin then urged the government to invoke Standing Order 62 to either withdraw the bills or request for them to be postponed. 

Deputy speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor explained that there are no existing provisions in the standing order or the federal constitution stipulating that all bills must have a Malay version, and that as such, Takiyuddin’s argument is moot. 

Zulkifly said the issue at hand is not over the lack of use of the Malay language in the Dewan Rakyat, but whether this development means the Penal Code and CPC will now only be in English. 

“I understand (about the legal predicament as mentioned by Ramli), but I would also like to make you (Ramli) understand that we are lawmakers...I think the speaker and others in the house do not understand,” he said.

Later, deputy law minister Ramkarpal Singh explained that the reason the bill is only in English is that the authoritative text for both the Penal Code and CPC are in that language. 

He also noted that when the same legislations were amended last year, during which time Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah-PN) was the deputy law minister, they were similarly tabled only in English. 

“Can she respond? We want to hear confirmation, that’s all,” Ramkarpal said. 

“These bills were tabled when Perikatan Nasional was in the government. Of course, we have made some changes and are re-tabling them. 

“And I believe the deputy minister then was the one who brought the bill to the house. So, what is the issue being raised by Kota Baru now? He (Takiyuddin) knows this; he’s a lawyer.” 

It was at this time that Zulkifly was issued two warnings by Ramli after he repeatedly interfered in the proceedings and ignored the deputy speaker’s order for him to sit. 

Despite this, Zulkifly again interjected while Ramkarpal was speaking, prompting Ramli to order his removal from the House. He issued Zulkifly a three-day suspension starting today. 

Later, Takiyuddin acknowledged that the bills were indeed tabled only in English previously, but noted that they did not face any objection from the then opposition bench. 

“It was deemed to be accepted. Even if the previous government did it, I am asking the government of the day. Why not (have a Malay version)? What’s the problem? Don’t be emotional, mister minister.”

Ramkarpal then accused Takiyuddin of being a spin master, noting that the PAS lawmaker’s initial question was pertaining to the justification of the government’s move to table the bills only in English. 

After hearing the arguments from both aisles, Ramli maintained his earlier ruling that the bills can be tabled, as there are no existing provisions that mandate a Malay translation. 

He also advised those who are not satisfied with this to file a motion to the speaker requesting that the law be amended. – The Vibes, March 29, 2023