Umno, PAS MPs allege Nga abused power as deputy speaker

PARLIAMENT | Umno and PAS lawmakers today alleged Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming had abused his powers in ruling to suspend Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) for three days.

Opposition leader Ismail Sabri, backed by some 20 Umno and PAS MPs, insisted that Noh had only attempted to seek an explanation from the Teluk Intan MP over his reported "Taliban" jibe.

Noh was not present when Nga made the ruling at the start of today's proceeding. 

"I hope the deputy speaker will withdraw his ruling.

"He (Nga) cannot use his powers as a deputy speaker to defend his wrong actions (done) outside the House," the Bera MP told reporters at parliament lobby. The PAS MPs were led by its deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Ismail also said that Umno and PAS would continue to boycott the sitting during Nga's turn as speaker today and would discuss if they would continue with their action for subsequent days.

Tuan Ibrahim, who said that PAS supported Umno's claims against Nga, pointed out that any question by an MP would not be answered in their absence, let alone facing such a ruling.

"On behalf of PAS, we record our appreciation. Actually what happened yesterday was that Tanjong Karang tried to seek an explanation.

"The deputy speaker should not have just kept quiet, refusing to explain and going on to suspend him," said Tuan Ibrahim. 

Nga reportedly said at an event in Taiping, Perak, earlier this month that if an Umno-PAS alliance were to come into federal power, Malaysia could turn into Afghanistan under "Taliban rule".

He had said this alliance would harp on issues of race and religion to garner support, and once in power, would implement extreme policies to victimise both non-Malays and moderate Malays. 

Yesterday, Noh confronted Nga over the remark, saying he was unfit for the position of Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker.

When met by reporters yesterday, Nga remained unapologetic and questioned whether the media had listened to his original statement. - Mkini