Speaker says Pasir Salak MP's 'budak' swipe against Syed Saddiq 'only a joke'

 

PARLIAMENT | Amid protests from opposition MPs, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun today ruled that Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman's remark describing Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman as a "kid" (budak) was a joke made with no ill intentions.

"I think that was a joke, there were no ill intentions," said Azhar in response to requests from Hannah Yeoh (Harapan-Segambut), Lim Guan Eng (Harapan-Bagan) and Ramkarpal Singh (Harapan-Bukit Gelugor) for a ruling on whether Tajuddin's remark was considered as parliamentary or otherwise.

Tajuddin made the remark this afternoon during Deputy Plantations and Commodities Minister Willie Mongin's speech to wind-up the ministry's committee level debate.

Willie had allowed Tajuddin to interject while at the same time ignoring Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who also stood up.

In his attempt to proceed, Tajuddin ordered Syed Saddiq to sit down but used the term "budak" (kid) to refer to the MP.

The Pasir Salak MP then proceeded to question whether the government had plans to develop more local rubber product producers in a market currently dominated by giant companies.

Yeoh then raised a standing order and demanded a ruling from the speaker on whether the remark is unparliamentary.

Tajuddin, however, insisted that there was nothing wrong with the term "budak" used to describe Syed Saddiq.

"What do you want me to explain? I am 72 years old. How old is he?" he said.

As Willie continued his speech, Syed Saddiq once again attempted to intervene and was given way to raise a question on whether the government will reconsider a proposal to implement a windfall tax on major glove companies.

"I give him space. He is not a kid, but a handsome boy (budak handsome)," said Willie.

"I don't wish to debate on the issue of whether I'm a kid or otherwise, but I would like to raise in this House that, as an MP, I have never once thought to label Pasir Salak as an 'old man'," Syed Saddiq said.

Azhar eventually ruled that Tajuddin's remark was a joke and continued the proceedings with a bloc vote called by Teresa Kok (Harapan-Seputeh) on the ministry's allocations.  - Mkini