KUALA LUMPUR – A government lawmaker had a bone to pick with an MP in the opposition aisle who appeared to imply in the Dewan Rakyat today that Pakatan Harapan component party Amanah is untrustworthy.
Azli Yusof (Shah Alam-PH), who is also Selangor Amanah deputy chairman, did not take too kindly to Datuk Awang Hashim’s (Pendang-PN) jibe ostensibly questioning Amanah’s integrity.
While debating the Supplementary Supply (2022) Bill 2023 at the committee stage in Parliament, Awang stated that the Election Commission is akin to a “football referee” that must remain unbiased and responsible in carrying out its duties.
“This is the rakyat’s money we are talking about. We must be amanah (of integrity). Not the Amanah party, but we must be amanah.
“I don’t know if the Amanah party is amanah,” he said to light laughter from his fellow opposition backbenchers.
Later, Azli voiced his grouses during Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh’s (Bukit Gelugor-PH) winding-up speech on the bill.
Interrupting Ramkarpal’s speech, Azli lamented Awang’s comments, pointing out that the latter had since exited the House before listening to the deputy minister’s response to issues raised during the debate session.
“Just now, Pendang mentioned that he does not know whether Amanah has integrity, but now he is not here to listen to the minister’s explanation.
“I’m not sure if he has integrity towards citizens,” he said.
He also alluded that Awang had gone against Islamic teachings, which dictate against pessimistic assumptions of others during the holy month of Ramadan.
“That is our belief as Muslims. Is there anything similar in your beliefs (Ramkarpal)?”
While DAP’s Ramkarpal appeared to not understand Azli’s question at first, he later said that the grievances raised by both parties regarding Amanah are “beyond the ministry”. – The Vibes, March 30, 2023
