'Anak jantan' dare sparks confrontation between MPs

PARLIAMENT The temperature in the Dewan Rakyat went up a few notches when two lawmakers from opposite ends came close to having a physical confrontation.

Shortly after Rafizi Ramli (PKR-Pandan) ended his speech, a commotion could be heard in the House.

The House camera then focussed on deputy speaker Ismail Mohamad Said instructing G Manivannan (PKR-Kapar) and Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid (BN-Kota Tinggi) to sit.

Ismail was then heard ordering Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Bayan Baru) to hand his phone to parliament officers to delete photos he took in the House, which is prohibited.

It is unclear what exactly happened but Manivannan and opposition MPs claimed that Ehsanuddin had crossed over from his side of the Dewan Rakyat towards the opposition side.

However, they said parliament officers kept Ehsanuddin and Manivannan apart.

The tension between the two started last night, when the PKR MP declined to allow the Kota Tinggi lawmaker to interrupt his budget debate speech.

Manivannan was at the time speaking about potential social ills such as women having to prostitute themselves and youths resorting to selling drugs if the economic burden on the public is not alleviated.

Ehsanuddin said such language was unparliamentary, and he could be heard making comments and criticising the Kapar MP throughout the rest of his speech.

At the end of his speech, Manivannan took aim at the Umno MP and said: "If you're anak jantan (a man), come out (of the House) now."

Manivannan told Malaysiakini that the Umno lawmaker however did not accept his challenge and he thought the issue was settled.

He claimed Ehsanuddin approached him today after he objected to the latter allegedly calling Rafizi a "stupid liar".

The Umno MP however denied uttering such remarks.

"Ada ke (Were there such remarks)? That didn't have to do with anything," he said.

Eshanuddin denied he was looking for a fight, and that he merely wanted to ask Manivannan about the "anak jantan" remark.

"I wasn't in the Dewan when he challenged me last night. I heard he dared me, if I'm anak jantan to meet outside. So I wanted to ask him about it," he explained.- Mkini