Speaker expels Baling MP, hands out two-day ban over bias row
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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof suspended Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim for two days after the latter accused him of bias.
The usually calm Mohamad Ariff was visibly upset by the allegation and ordered the bailiffs to remove Azeez after their argument.
Azeez’s ejection from Parliament came about after Padang Terap MP Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid sought to debate a controversial pro-China comic book titled Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism authored by former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau, but was stopped by the speaker.
Mohamad Ariff told Mahdzir that he had formally explained his rejection of the motion as the case is currently under police investigation and was not considered urgent.
But Mahdzir, a former education minister, insisted that the comic book was in public circulation and that Parliament should move to ban it.
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer then interjected, asking Mahdzir to respect the speaker’s decision, which only riled up Mahdzir who told the DAP lawmaker not to act like a “class monitor”.
Azeez chimed in at this point, telling Rayer to “shut up and sit down”, which earned the Umno MP an order from the speaker to retract his unparliamentary language.
“Retract it! I would not accept words like shut up and its equivalent,” Mohamad Ariff said, adding that his decision was made under Standing Order 18 and was final.
However, the Opposition would not let the matter rest; its leader, Bera MP Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob insisted the House debate the comic book and pushed for its ban for allegedly promoting communism.
A tumult broke in the Dewan Rakyat.
As Mohamad Ariff attempted to restore order, he suddenly turned to Azeez and chided the Baling MP for accusing him of bias.
“I heard that, Baling. Retract it! Retract it! I have already instructed Jelutong to retract his ‘stupid’ remark,” he said.
He ordered Azeez removed after the Umno man retracted his remark but refused to budge.
“You retract but still speak as if you don’t want to follow my order,” Mohamad Ariff said.
He banned Azeez from the entering the House for two days.
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