KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat today in an apparent show of solidarity with Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (Putrajaya-PN) after he was ejected from the lower House for causing a ruckus.
Radzi was booted out by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul after the former took issue with a statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH), leading to a sustained shouting match between MPs across the aisle.
The Bersatu MP had made loud repeated calls for the Speaker to order Anwar to retract his statement which was made during the prime minister’s winding-up speech on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.
Anwar was attempting to explain the issue of the dismissal not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) granted to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, but was met by a barrage of interjections by several opposition MPs, including Radzi.
Chaos erupted in the August House when Anwar attempted to explain how the government had not intervened in the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datuk-PH) in his Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case.
“The explanation by the law minister (Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said) on Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution did not satisfy some quarters because they believe that this (Zahid’s DNAA) is an issue where the prime minister has intervened.
“We talk about punishing people and we talk about justice, but we cannot punish people just based on assumptions.
“When the AG (attorney-general) made the decision to submit the DNAA, I just asked him about his reasoning behind the decision. I did not discuss his decision with him.
“Putrajaya (Radzi), you can laugh, but your (PN) administration did the same thing,” Anwar said, to which Radzi immediately stood up and cited Standing Order 36(6), which stipulates that no member shall impute improper motives to any other member.
Despite repeated instructions from the Speaker for him to take his seat, Radzi insisted that Johari order the prime minister to retract his statement as his “dignity” had been besmirched.
“This is overboard! My dignity is at stake here, I will not sit down until the Speaker makes a decision calling for Tambun (Anwar) to withdraw his statement! You must be fair!” Radzi could be heard shouting amid shouting from MPs across the aisle.
Even after Johari had ruled that Anwar need not take back his statement and requested for Radzi to submit a written motion if he disagreed with the directive, Radzi refused to remain silent on the matter and made a low-blow comment by pointing to Anwar’s previous sodomy conviction.
When questioned by Johari on whether he was challenging the Speaker’s authority, Radzi said: “I’m not challenging you, but I am asking for justice as my dignity has been tarnished.”
Opposition chief Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Larut-PN), who was allowed to defend the opposition backbencher, said: “Putrajaya (Radzi) wanted to protect his dignity when he was accused by (Anwar). This cannot be accepted.
“If you (Johari) order for (Radzi) to leave the Dewan, then this involves all (of the opposition MP’s) dignity as well, so we will all leave. I cannot accept an MP not being held accountable (for his words).”
While opposition MPs exited the Dewan, Mohammed Taufiq Johari (Sungai Petani-PH) was heard quipping: “Okay, since you’re all leaving now, go do a press conference outside. So dramatic.”
Later, Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor (Ketereh-PN), who briefly remained in the Dewan to ask Anwar a question on allocations for opposition MPs, was the sole remaining PN lawmaker in the lower House, accompanied by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Muda).
Khlir later made his way out of the Dewan, leaving the opposition aisle bare during Anwar’s explanation on the DNAA granted to Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, on September 4.
The opposition, including Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN), had previously submitted multiple motions to debate Zahid’s DNAA in the Dewan Rakyat. – September 19, 2023