PETALING JAYA – Former minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin today said the move by the Dewan Rakyat speaker to ban the use of the words “kafir”, “Yahudi” (Jews) and “Zionists” was inappropriate as it restricted the freedom of MPs to speak.
“It is very ‘shallow’ (dangkal) for the Dewan Rakyat to limit the use of a word that, if uttered outside the House, is not an offence.
“For example, the word ‘kafir’ which has become a polemic in Parliament recently is due to the lack of understanding of some Members of Parliament regarding the word,” she said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Tan Sri Johari Abdul told MPs to refrain from using “sensitive” words such as “kafir” (infidel), “Zionist”, and “Yahudi” (Jews) in the august House.
He said various arguments put forth by MPs in last week’s 2024 supply bill debate were “sensitive, hurtful, and divisive”.
Zuraida, who is also Muafakat Nasional deputy president, said the word “kafir” comes from the Arabic language and refers to people who “do not believe” or, more precisely, those who are not Muslims and do not believe in what a Muslim believes.
She said the Al-Quran and Hadith also use the word “kafir” to describe the same thing.
“So how come the speaker, who is also a Muslim, refuses to allow the use of this word in the House to refer to members of the House who are not Muslims?
“The speaker should take this opportunity to explain the meaning and translation of the word for all members of the House to understand because this word is not a curse or insult, but only a title for those who do not follow Islam,” said Zuraida.
As for the words “Jew” and “Zionist”, she said, it is the same as throwing the words “racist”, “extremist”, “Taliban” and “communist” that have been used by both sides, the opposition and the government, before.
“It is just a way of communication between each other and not threats or swearing, to the extent that it has to be prohibited.
“As a former Member of Parliament for three terms, the current quality of Parliament’s management and its members has dropped compared to previous parliamentary sessions.
“The mental resilience of MPs, especially from among the government members, is so fragile that the speaker has to intervene and safeguard their feelings,” she said.
She said she expected more restrictions on parliamentarians in the future, to the extent that MPs will fail to carry out their responsibilities in fighting for the people.
Zuraida also said Johari is seen to be too lenient with the government and too strict when dealing with the opposition.
“If the speaker cannot be fair, I suggest Johari Abdul just give up his position and let other individuals who are more qualified to hold the position.
“Even if it is ‘rude’ or ‘barbaric’ for some, the voice of parliamentarians should not be blocked, because the act of blocking certain words or statements in this Parliament will slow down the development of democracy in our country,” she added. – The Vibes, October 24, 2023
