KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands-BN) was forced to chastise lawmakers across the divide after yet another shouting match in Parliament today.
Chaos first ensued when Mohd Sany Hamzan (Hulu Langat-PH) interjected during Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi’s (Tumpat-PN) debate on the Printing of Quranic Texts (Amendment) Bill 2023 to inquire about a statement issued by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang-PN).
When Mumtaz refused to give him the floor to voice his query, Sany, who is also Amanah mobilisation chief, could be heard yelling over his muted microphone, despite multiple orders by Ramli for him to sit down and heed the speaker’s orders to be quiet.
“YB (Sany), sit down and I will deal with this matter. I have to remind you that the floor belongs to Tumpat (Mumtaz); you can only speak if she makes way for it.
“The other MPs, be quiet. Don’t act this way. We must have manners; we are not children,” he said, to which several other MPs could be heard urging for Sany to take his place and cease his verbal tirade.
Appearing to get more riled up by the minute, Sany then claimed that Datuk Awang Hashim (Pendang-PN) had called him “gila” (crazy) during the debacle, prompting him to cite Standing Order 36(6), which stipulates that no member shall impute improper motives to any other member.
“The other side (opposition) really has no manners…this is the problem. Someone should teach them some manners,” Sany said in requesting for Ramli to order Awang to retract his comments.
The matter was not put to rest after Ramli delivered an order for Awang to take back his words, as Sany was not satisfied with the PAS lawmaker opting to not use his microphone when vocalising his apology.
“Use the microphone (when apologising)! We want the people to hear (your apology)!” Sany could be heard demanding, causing another round of uproar from opposition backbenchers.
This then led to Ramli once again admonishing the MPs, saying: “We are adults. Our children are watching us from our homes, so we should have some manners (during proceedings).”
Earlier today, Ramli’s fellow deputy speaker Alice Lau (Lanang-PH) also dealt with a similar situation when she was made to preside over verbal barbs exchanged between MPs from both sides of the House. – The Vibes, May 22, 2023
