Tajuddin: I'll attend Parliament even if suspended for life

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite being booted out of the Dewan Rakyat for disobeying the Deputy Speaker, Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (pic) remained defiant, saying he will still attend Parliamentary sittings even if he was suspended forever.

"He wants to suspend me. Suspend-lah!

"Even if he suspended me until I die, I will still not exit (the Dewan Rakyat)," said Tajuddin, who was visibly upset.

Earlier on Wednesday (July 3), Tajuddin was given a suspension of four days for disobeying Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming, after he repeatedly badgered for a proper answer during the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister's question-and-answer time.

Tajuddin accused Nga of preventing him from asking questions in the Dewan Rakyat, telling reporters to listen to his remarks carefully and not "twist the story".

"I am the victim, not him. Anti-me or anti-Barisan Nasional will talk differently.

"Then he said I misbehaved? What misbehave? I was just making a remark against a minister."

Asked if he would be going into the Dewan Rakyat after lunch break at 2.30pm, Tajuddin was defiant.

He said he would step foot inside the House in spite of the four-day suspension.

"I am free to go in anytime I want to. I am free.

"He wants to suspend me. What kind of speaker is this?"

According to Tajuddin, the verbal spat between him and Nga began after he asked where the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub was during the Minster's question-and-answer time.

Answering question on his behalf was Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Sim Tze Tzin.

"I asked where is the minister. Why walk away? This is not my question. I'm questioning on behalf of the rakyat, and he (Nga) must respect that.

"It is my right and his duty to answer the rakyat," Tajuddin said.

Salahuddin, who was met by reporters at the Parliament lobby shortly afterwards, explained that he assigned Sim to answer on his behalf during the minister's question-and-answer time.

"It's a normal process. There is no issue that I'm going to run away from the House. A Minister should give chance to his deputy to answer questions in Parliament.

"Not only in this session, but the last session too. I practise this kind of procedure."- Star