[UPDATED] Cite house rules in full, don’t cherrypick: Art Harun slams MPs

KUALA LUMPUR – Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun today has chastised opposition MPs who he claimed have disrespected house rules during yesterday’s commotion.

Azhar said in Dewan Rakyat that he is appalled at the lack of respect by Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud-Warisan) as she did not leave the lower house and refused to comply with the sergeant-at-arms (Bentara) for more than 40 minutes, despite repeated warnings by Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-Bersatu).

“It is okay if you disrespect me, I am the speaker, I can take it but what about the young Bentara that was on duty?

“For 40 minutes, they stood there. What powers are accorded to them? they were completely ignored,” said Azhar.

However, Datuk Rozman Isli (Labuan-Warisan) said Isnaraissah yesterday was merely pointing to Erskine May, or parliamentary privileges accorded to MPs, which include means to introduce an emergency motion.

Azhar then cited rules under Erskine May that an emergency motion should be discussed in private and not debated in the Dewan Rakyat.

“If you want to cite Erskine May, then cite it in its entirety, don’t just pick paragraphs that are biased to you.”

Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH) responded by saying that the opposition bench meant no disrespect to the sergeant-at-arms.

Azhar reiterated that the sergeant at arms was ignored, despite being accorded powers by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to ensure order is maintained in Parliament.

He pointed to the Royal Seal in Dewan Rakyat and questioned who the opposition MPs disrespected when they refused to comply with house rules.

“I would like to ask, who did we disrespect yesterday?”

When Rashid took over, he handed Isnaraissah a two-day suspension after she continued to question why her motion to debate the seizure of Petronas assets by Sulu claimants was thrice rejected.

Yesterday, Azhar got into a shouting match with several MPs including Isnaraissah, Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor-PH) and Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman (Sepanggar-Warisan), after disallowing the motion.

The ruckus reached a fever pitch and went on for more than 20 minutes, which saw Azhar walking off.

When Rashid took over, he handed Isnaraissah a two-day suspension after she continued to question why her motion to debate the seizure of Petronas assets by Sulu claimants was thrice rejected.

This saw several opposition MPs walking to her seat and surrounding Isnaraissah to prevent the sergeant-at-arms from removing her.

Despite some reports stating that her suspension was lifted, Isnaraissah yesterday confirmed with The Vibes that she would be back in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow. – The Vibes, July 19, 2022