I was kicked out of Dewan because speaker is emotional, says Awang Hashim

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Awang Hashim (Pendang-PN) has alleged that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul makes decisions based on emotions, following a four-day suspension imposed on the lawmaker.

This incident unfolded amid an uproar by Perikatan Nasional lawmakers during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s speech, where he congratulated Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim on his installation as the country’s new ruler. 

The outcry in Parliament today eventually led to the opposition members staging a complete walkout.

“I was suspended without any (basis). This is irregular, to interrupt the (standing order) that was brought during the motion of thanks. I don’t know what I did wrong until now,” he told a press conference at Parliament today.

“Is this an emotional decision? Of course it is. (The speaker) has been emotional with every decision made thus far. If he says he wants to be fair, let it be to all parties.”

Despite being ejected, Awang returned to the lower House to seek the reasons behind his ban, adding that he did not hear the order by Johari.

The ban, however, was short-lived, as Johari promptly retracted the order after Awang made an apology.

The reversal of the order was negotiated by opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-PN), who urged his fellow Perikatan Nasional member to apologise and retract his statement. 

Despite being a friend of Awang, Johari explained that he could not compromise if he was disrespected as the speaker, claiming that Awang had initially refused to retract his statement.

Johari also noted that he imposed a four-day ban, instead of the supposed 14 days as suggested by Sultan Ibrahim yesterday.

Earlier, opposition lawmakers walked out from the Dewan Rakyat to protest against the timing of Anwar’s speech during the afternoon session, following the request of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Hamzah said the speech should have been done earlier at the start of the parliamentary session, adding that no prime minister had delivered a speech after debates on the royal address commenced.

“It is not that we disagree with (the speech) and just want to oppose it, we want to see the rules being followed,” he said.

Hamzah also lambasted the majority decision supporting the change of timing after Johari called for a bloc vote, saying the government abused its majority in Parliament to push for the decision. – February 27, 2024