The Pahang state assembly sitting almost descended into a brawl yesterday after a heated exchange between Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and Mentakab DAP assemblyman Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji.
Adnan Yaakob was upset over a jibe from Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji on ‘beer festivals’ and floods in the state assembly sitting.
The fracas began after de facto opposition leader Tengku Zulpuri told the assembly that the recent floods in his constituency were due to drainage problems and had nothing to do with beer festivals.
“There was no beer festival in the area before the flood,” Bernama quoted him as saying in an apparent jibe at a statement by Adnan recently that the floods in Penang were due to the beer festival held there.
Ignoring Adnan’s attempt to interrupt him, Tengku Zulpuri said it was wrong to say that floods were divine retribution for beer festivals as floods had also happened, including in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recently.
Reacting angrily, Adnan reportedly said: “We are talking about religion…I am upset because he insulted the religion, insulted Allah when he said there were floods in Jeddah although there was no beer festival.”
The duo continued to argue and Adnan apparently challenged Tengku Zulpuri to a fight.
The China Press reported that the menteri besar said he was willing to create history by brawling in the legislative assembly.
Eventually, state speaker Ishak Muhammad managed to calm both individuals and accepted Adnan’s proposal for an adjournment, although Tengku Zulpuri had not finished his speech.
Malaysiakini reported that according to several witnesses, Adnan asked the opposition lawmaker to approach the government bench following the adjournment and threatened to punch him.
In response, Tengku Zulpuri said he was willing to be punched and would not retaliate, according to witnesses.
BN and Harapan lawmakers managed to keep the two men apart.
