KUALA LUMPUR – Tempers flared in the Dewan Rakyat today when a government backbencher raised concerns over potential international backlash due to recent statements by an opposition MP alleging that DAP figures are related to communist figures and former Singapore leaders.
Chaos erupted in the lower House when R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH) questioned the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry on whether such allegations could affect government initiatives to encourage bilateral trade with Singapore.
“Will the recent statement by an MP associating (ex-Singapore prime minister) Lee Kuan Yew with communists cause problems on any of the initiatives we have carried out?
“The MP’s rudeness might threaten the two-way trade between Malaysia and Singapore,” Rayer said in his speech on the Supply Bill 2024 at the committee level.
PAS’ Siti Mastura Muhammad (Kepala Batas-PN) then immediately interjected Rayer and cited Standing Order 36(6) on how no MP shall impute improper motives against another member.
“I have already given my statement (to the police) and there hasn’t been a decision yet. Jelutong (Rayer) must retract his statement,” Siti Mastura said.
In response, Rayer pointed out that he had not mentioned the name of the MP he was referring to in his query, saying: “I didn’t say ‘Kepala Batas’. Please sit down, ‘jangan perasan’ (don’t take it personally). Siapa makan cili, dia rasa pedas (Whoever eats the chili will taste the heat).”
His comments caused an apparently indignant Siti Mastura to question Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Alice Lau (Lanang-PH) on whether the issue raised by Rayer is related to the Budget 2024 debate.
“Other MPs are watching. For a lawmaker of quality, is this what he wants to show the people outside (the Dewan)?” she questioned, to which Rayer raised his voice in stressing that his concerns are relevant to the ministry as it oversees business matters.
Earlier on in his speech, Rayer had referenced the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp) and Enterprise Singapore on October 30.
The MoU is aimed at paving the way towards strengthening bilateral ties and encouraging the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises in both countries.
SME Corp had identified eight sectors that would be priorities for business matching activities, including smart agriculture, aerospace, medical devices and halal industries.
Yesterday, Siti Mastura’s statement was recorded at the Bukit Aman police headquarters after police reports were lodged against her for claiming that DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng (Bagan) and his father, party stalwart Lim Kit Siang, were related to the late Lee and long-deceased Malayan Communist party leader Chin Peng.
She made the claim in a speech at a PAS programme in Kemaman, Terengganu, on November 4, of which video is available. In her speech, she also alleged Guan Eng’s wife, Betty Chew, is cousins with Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH).
Siti Mastura also claimed Guan Eng and his father were related to other DAP figures, namely party secretary-general and Transport Minister Anthony Loke (Seremban-PH), Local Government and Development Minister Nga Kor Ming (Teluk Intan-PH) and Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas-PH).
Kit Siang, Guan Eng, Chew and Kok have since served Siti Mastura with letters of demand as part of civil defamation action against her.
On November 9, Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Bukit Bendera-PH) lodged a police report against the Siti Mastura over her failure to retract the alleged slanderous statements. Previously, Siti Mastura ignored and refused to answer calls by Pakatan Harapan MPs in the Dewan Rakyat to explain and show proof of her claims. — November 15, 2023