KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat was thrown into chaos when Tanjung Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar defied the three-day ban imposed by Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming to attend yesterday’s proceedings.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who was chairing proceedings at that time, read out the order again after seeing Noh at the sitting, but Noh instead stood up and questioned the ban, which was made in his absence.
Several Barisan Nasional MPs, including Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (Pontian) and Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said (Kuala Krau) defended Noh by citing Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang’s refusal to get out when told to during a parliamentary session under the BN rule previously.
Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) then stood up to cite Article 99 of the Rules of the House, saying Noh should leave as the Speaker’s decision was final.
Noh, however, did not budge and Mohd Rashid then ordered the House’s sergeant-at-arms to escort the former Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government out.
When Noh still refused, Mohd Rashid asked all MPs to stay calm and to respect the House before allowing Noh to stay until the end of the morning session.
This resulted in several PH parliamentarians, including Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka), Chang Lih Kang (Tanjong Malim) and RSN Rayer (Jelutong) protesting before the Deputy Speaker adjourned proceedings.
Singapore Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan Jin and his delegation were in the Dewan Rakyat when the commotion occurred.
Earlier, Nga had barred Noh for three days under Articles 43 and 44 of the Rules of the House for insulting the institution of the Speaker as well as claiming Nga was not qualified to be a Deputy Speaker.
When the House sat for the afternoon session, Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Yusof maintained the decision to bar Noh after giving him a chance to defend himself.
“I find his words to be a clear challenge on the position of the Speaker. This is against the rule. So, I am maintaining the ruling made by the Deputy Speaker. It is final and I don’t want to listen to anything else.
“The ruling made this morning must be carried out or else the authority of the House will be challenged… I have given (Noh) the opportunity to defend himself and I have now made my decision that this morning’s ruling stays.” he said.
Mohd Arif then adjourned the sitting for 15 minutes. – Bernama
