PN lawmaker booted out of Dewan for defying deputy speaker's order

PARLIAMENT | A Perikatan Nasional (PN) MP was booted out of the Dewan Rakyat today for failing to adhere to the deputy speaker's order to sit down during a parliamentary debate.

In addition, Zulkifly Jusoh (Besut) was also suspended from attending the parliamentary session for three days, beginning today.

It began when Zulkifly (above) interrupted a verbal exchange between Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ramkarpal Singh (Pakatan Harapan-Bukit Gelugor) and Takiyuddin Hassan (PN- Kota Bharu).

This caused Deputy Speaker Ramli Mohd Nor to tell Zulkifly to sit down, which the latter did after two warnings. However, the former Umno MP stood up again to interrupt Ramkarpal's speech, and this was when Ramli issued a third warning.

When Zulkifly appeared hesitant, Ramli ordered the Parliament's sergeant-at-arms to escort Zulkifly out of the august House and he read out the suspension order.

Zulkifly, a former Sessions Court judge, appeared unhappy with his suspension, saying: 'I've already sat down, then why was the decision (suspension) taken?"

Earlier, opposition whip Takiyuddin Hassan raised questions about the use of English words in the two bills presented today.

'Not contained in parliamentary rules'

According to him, it (usage of English words) was something not contained in parliamentary rules, and this, therefore, needed attention.

"I did not think that the Madani government will change policy... are we no longer using Bahasa Malaysia? I don't think so because our PM (Anwar Ibrahim) is a staunch advocate of the Malay language," the PAS lawmaker said.

Deputy Speaker Ramli Mohd Nor

Ramli then explained that throughout the history of Parliament in this country, there has yet to be a rectification stipulating that only the Malay language must be used.

"The amendment of the rules must be done.

"... but this is based on my understanding. As long as the Parliament does not amend the Federal Constitution, then English can be used in the House," he said.

Ramli stressed that it is up to the MPs, as the constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority.

Meanwhile, Zulkifly told a press conference later that the government should realise that not all Malaysia can understand English.

"I don't know what's the agenda of the current government... why can't (the bill) be withdrawn, presented again and debated on.

"If the rakyat read the English terms and they do not understand what they are reading, they would not know their rights as enshrined in the law," Zulkifly said.- Mkini