An outcry by Opposition MPs in Parliament was triggered after Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun ruled a remark against Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Independent-Muar) being called a “child” was a joke with no bad intentions.
“I feel that it is a joke. There is no mala fide,” said Azhar after the alleged remark by Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) against Syed Saddiq.
The Speaker said this in response to Hannah Yeoh (PH-Segambut), Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) and Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) who demanded a ruling from Azhar over Tajuddin’s remark.
The issue began when Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities minister Willie Mongin was delivering his winding-up speech at the committee stage in Parliament on Tuesday (Dec 1).
Tajuddin had interjected Mongin’s speech, asking whether the government had plans to produce more local rubber product manufacturers in a market dominated by big corporations.
Before Tajuddin began his question, he ordered Syed Saddiq to sit down.
“Budak-budak (children) should sit first,” said Tajuddin.
Yeoh then raised Standing Order 36(4), to which Tajuddin stood up and interjected.
“I’m 72-years-old. How old is she? How old is he?” questioned Tajuddin.
Yeoh, however, remained defiant, as she demanded for a ruling from Azhar over the issue.
“This is not the first time Syed Saddiq was called a ‘budak’ and this is bullying. Other children are watching our proceedings,” she said.
Later, Azhar ruled Tajuddin’s remark as a joke. – The Star