KUALA LUMPUR – Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka-PH) was asked to leave the Dewan Rakyat during the morning session after refusing to retract remarks against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh-PN)
Deputy Speaker Alice Lau ordered the DAP lawmaker to do so and only return after lunch break following a war of words which broke out following Khoo’s remarks.
During the session, at about 12.40pm, Muhyiddin was debating the Supply Bill 2024 (Budget 2024) when Khoo questioned the former’s decision to sign a 10-year agreement with Padi Beras Nasional Bhd (Bernas) while taking the opportunity to personally attack him.
“When you were the prime minister, you didn’t act wisely until your daughter and son-in-law flew out of the country.
“Why can’t they return to Malaysia for MACC’s investigations?” he asked.
The remark soon led to a shouting match between MPs on both sets of the divide, with PN MPs calling for Khoo to retract his remarks.
The war of words saw Datuk Awang Hashim (Pendang-PN), Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN) utter remarks at Khoo such as “Don’t act like a Zionist” and “Bang**t” – prompting Lau to order both to withdraw their remarks, which they subsequently did.
She then asked Khoo to retract his words against Muhyiddin as it was out of topic or face expulsion from the august house during the session.
Refusing to withdraw his remarks, Khoo was asked to leave the Dewan Rakyat and return after lunch break which he subsequently did. – October 18, 2023