KUALA LUMPUR – Government backbenchers have urged the opposition to cease harping on issues relating to Liberal International, stressing that lawmakers should instead focus on presenting a united front in expressing solidarity with war-torn Palestine.
Addressing the lower House today, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Ledang-PH) said that he was “perplexed” by Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal’s (Machang-PN) apparent insistence on raising the matter in the Dewan.
“Earlier this morning, we saw how Machang (Wan Fayhsal) continued to bring up the issue of how certain parties are said to be associated with Liberty International, even though the matter was already explained by the prime minister.
“If you keep on bringing up issues, I could do it too. I could talk about how Tasek Gelugor (Bersatu MP Datuk Wan Saifulruddin Wan Jan) was involved in a Liberty International forum in 2015.
“Enough is enough. For how long will you try to score political points? Do you want to be the prime minister?” Syed Ibrahim questioned to a resounding round of applause in the chamber.
The PKR lawmaker, who was debating the Supply Bill 2024 at the committee stage, said that since Malaysia has been firm and outspoken in its stance against apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide, politicians must band together to address the core issues of the Israel-Palestine war.
“We cannot stray from our main agenda, we must remain united. The root issue now calls for us to focus on how we can (secure) a ceasefire in Palestine while helping them as best as we can.”
During this morning’s Parliamentary session, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) clarified that Pakatan Harapan (PH) component member PKR has never been a member of Liberty International.
Anwar, who is also PKR president, said that the party was initially an associate member, but did not become a full member as it disagreed with some of the organisation’s decisions, including recognising the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and supporting Israel.
Meanwhile, Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat-PH), in his debate speech, supported Syed Ibrahim’s statement, saying: “It looks like Sik (PAS MP Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman) and Machang (Wan Fayhsal) are hard of hearing or unwell. They keep on repeating what the prime minister has already addressed.”
His comment then caused a brief commotion in the House, after Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN) took issue with the assertion and cited Standing Order 36(6) on how no member shall impute improper motives against another lawmaker.
“This word should not be used. We questioned the prime minister, he answered, so it’s settled now. Why is everyone else being a busybody? Why are you continuing to bring it up?” Shahidan said, without clarifying which part of Onn’s statement he deemed offensive.
“The opposition stands in support of the prime minister in condemning Israel. Don’t do work like those 12 (PKR) (representatives) and Teluk Intan (DAP MP Nga Kor Ming) who accused schools of…,” Shahidan added before he was cut off by shouts from government MPs.
RSN Rayer (Jelutong-PH) then chimed in to cite the same Standing Order, claiming that Shahidan was being rude. The latter then retaliated by calling the former “rude” several more times, causing the House walls to reverberate with the term.
It is believed that Shahidan was referring to how three PKR MPs and nine state assemblymen had previously urged the Education Ministry to review the Palestine Solidarity Week programme in schools and public education institutions.
Yesterday, contention over Nga’s social media post stating that schools should be free from elements of extremism and violence, after pictures of toy guns being used as part of events to show solidarity with Palestine, made the rounds on social media causing an opposition MP to be booted from the Dewan Rakyat.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Alice Lau (Lanang-PH) ordered Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (Pengkalan Chepa-PN) to leave the House after he refused to retract his allegations that Nga was promoting Islamophobia in his post. – November 7, 2023