KUALA LUMPUR – An opposition MP was the third lawmaker to be booted out of the Dewan Rakyat today after he alleged that Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming (Teluk-Intan-PH) promoted elements of Islamophobia in a social media post.
Chaos first erupted in the lower house when PAS MP Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (Pengkalan Chepa-PN) interjected Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar’s winding-up speech on the Supply Bill 2024.
“Confusion and Islamophobia have been caused by wrong understandings of Islam, not just among the public, but also among ministers.
“Teluk Intan (Nga) has made a number of social media posts… Have you (Na’im) made efforts to better improve our cabinet ministers’ understanding (of Islam)?” Marzuk questioned while holding up a printed screenshot of Nga’s now-deleted post.
It is believed that the post referenced by Marzuk is one where Nga had said that schools should be places where humanitarian and peace-loving values are instilled rather than extremist understandings.
An evidently angered Howard Lee (Ipoh Timur-PH) then immediately raised Standing Order 36(6) on how no MP shall impute improper motives against another lawmaker, claiming that Marzuk had slandered Nga by implying he was spreading Islamophobia.
An extensive shouting match then took place between MPs across the aisle, with Lee and Marzuk appearing to do their best to outshout each other while other lawmakers stood up to defend their respective sides.
While Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Alice Lau (Lanang-PH) attempted to resolve the situation by calling on Marzuk to explain his statement, Marzuk’s clarification was drowned out by Lee’s repeated requests for the MP to withdraw his accusation.
Over the commotion, Marzuk was heard asserting that Nga’s post, which included a picture of schoolchildren dressed as Palestine fighters, implies that the outfit is “promoting violence”, to which Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas-PH) countered that Marzuk was confusing the Dewan by providing his own interpretation of the post.
“He (Nga) didn’t say that Islam (exhibits) extremist (elements), he just said that extremism shouldn’t be involved in school (programmes). Don’t twist the post,” Ngeh said, which triggered yet another round of shouting among lawmakers.
Lau’s order for Marzuk to retract his statement was not well-received by opposition lawmakers, with Marzuk defending his assertions while claiming that the deputy speaker had failed to note exactly which part of his statement he had to rescind.
“I will not retract what I said. I have evidence. (Lau) must be specific when ordering me to take back my words. I have a right to submit a motion if I disagree with (Lau’s) ruling.
“I merely asked the minister (Na’im) if he is aware of this matter and whether Jakim (Malaysian Islamic Development Department) will play its part to explain Islam so that Islamophobia…,” he said before being cut off yet again by Lee’s yelled demands for him to adhere to Lau’s order.
“The (deputy) speaker has already made a ruling. Does the opposition intend to go against the speaker’s orders?” Lee questioned.
His microphone was then muted by Lau, who said that since Marzuk will be submitting a motion against her ruling, he will have to leave the lower House for today and return for tomorrow’s proceedings.
While this directive did not sit well with Marzuk and other opposition MPs, Marzuk was eventually forced to comply with the sergeant-at-arms (bentara) who acted on Lau’s orders to escort Marzuk out of the Dewan Rakyat amid much commotion from remaining lawmakers.
Earlier on, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul kicked Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (Parit Buntar-PN) and Mohd Sany Hamzan (Hulu Langat-PH) out of the lower House after a lengthy shouting match relating to the Palestine Solidarity Week programme in schools. – November 6, 2023