KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 6): An opposition Member of Parliament was expelled from the Dewan Rakyat on Monday after he refused to withdraw his comments against Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming.
During Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar's winding up speech on Budget 2024, Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) stood up to interject. He urged the minister to educate fellow Cabinet members, such as Nga, about Islam to prevent misunderstandings that might lead to the stigmatization of Muslims.
Ahmad Marzuk was referring to a social media post by Nga, which featured a picture of students wearing face masks and holding toy guns, accompanied by a caption stating that schools were not a place for conflicts, extremist mindsets, or violence.
This prompted Howard Lee (PH-Ipoh Timor) to rise and cite Standing Order 36, claiming that Ahmad Marzuk had malicious intent toward Nga, a point which Deputy Speaker Alice Lau, who was presiding, concurred.
Lau then requested Ahmad Marzuk to withdraw his statement. However, Ahmad Marzuk declined, leading to a 15-minute shouting match.
"If you refuse to retract your statement, file a motion after this and leave the House until tomorrow," Lau told Ahmad Marzuk.
Shortly after, Perikatan Nasional MPs staged a walkout and held a press conference.
Earlier on Monday, Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) and Mohd Misbahul Munir (PN-Parit Buntar) were instructed to leave the Dewan Rakyat by Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, following their involvement in a verbal altercation, which happened after Mohd Misbahul sought Mohd Na'im's view on the Education Ministry's alleged ban on "takbir" chanting and the recitation of "Qunut Nazilah" in schools.
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