KUALA LUMPUR – Not hiding her apparent frustration with Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN), Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH) called him a “wahhabi” after he repeatedly interrupted Parliament, wasting time that was allocated for other MPs.
Vivian Wong (Sandakan-PH) was debating Budget 2023 at the committee level for the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry in Parliament today when Shahidan repeatedly interrupted her speech to request a quorum call.
“I would like to call for a quorum in a while. (In the meantime), I’m going to go perform my prayers.
“If the bell is rung now and my (fellow opposition) friends walk out, (a) quorum will not be reached, but we won’t do that because we are good people,” he told Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands-BN).
A visibly irate Kok then appeared to lash out at Shahidan for trying to exit the proceedings to perform his prayers.
“Why did you have to disturb (Parliament proceedings)? You (are a) ‘wahhabi’ you know, you cannot do this,” she said, drawing the ire of opposition MPs who questioned her choice of words.
Kok’s remark against Shahidan prompted Mohd Hasnizan Harun (Hulu Selangor-PN) to press her for an explanation.
Wahhabism is an orthodox and fundamental Islamic reform movement to restore what its followers believe to be pure Islamic worship by rejecting teachings that come after the Quran and Sunnah (the way of the prophet).
As a shouting match ensued between MPs from both sides of the aisle, Ramli attempted to defuse the situation by stating that a quorum had been reached, based on a headcount by the Dewan Rakyat secretary.
He also ordered Shahidan to take his seat while calling on Wong to resume her debate.
Earlier on, Kok had also taken a jab at Shahidan when he exchanged verbal blows with Chong Zhemin (Kampar-PH), saying: “He (Shahidan) is doing this to show his audience on TikTok.” – The Vibes, March 16, 2023
