Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister M Kayveas (photo) sparked off a commotion in the Dewan Rakyat today when he described the relationship between PAS and DAP as a "one-night" stand.

The remark, made during the question and answer session, infuriated opposition MPs who charged the description had a 'malicious intent'. Kayveas was told to retract the statement.

Kamaruddin Jaffar (PAS-Tumpat) raised a point of order against the deputy minister and accused him of employing harsh words since the term 'one-night stand' was often used to describe undesirable sexual acts.

However, the senator refused to retract his remark and said: "Nothing is bad unless you think it is bad. I am just describing the relationship between DAP and PAS".

"Sometimes they have a relationship. Sometimes they don't. It's not a continuous relationship.

"One day they have a stand, one day, they don't. I do not mean [anything] bad and I will not withdraw my statement," he added.

The deputy minister's unrepentant stand caused an uproar with opposition MPs insisting that the remark be revoked.

At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Mohamad Ismail decided to intervene and suggested in vain that Kayveas retract his remark.

Following this, Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) (photo) raised a point of order which she said could be used against Kayveas for disobeying the deputy speaker's orders.

A visibly flustered Mohamad then asked the deputy minister, "What is wrong in withdrawing your statement to calm the situation?"

'Two-night stand'

The deputy minister finally relented and agreed to retract his remark but added: "Instead of 'one-night stand', I'll use the term 'marriage of convenience' to describe the relationship between PAS and DAP. That means a two-night stand".

Although the new description further fueled opposition MPs' anger, the deputy speaker called the house to order and proceeded to the next question.

The 'one-night stand' remark was made when Kayveas replied to a supplementary question from Raja Ahmad Raja Zainuddin (BN-Larut) on whether the PAS-led governments in Kelantan and Terengganu conducted elections for local councils.

Raja Ahmad was responding to an earlier question by Lim Hock Seng (DAP-Bagan) who asked Kayveas whether the government planned to appoint those from non-governmental organisations as local council members.

Lim also asked the deputy minister to state whether the government planned to review the current system of appointing local council members, seeing as they are increasingly inefficient.

In his reply, Kayveas said Kelantan and Terengganu did not conduct elections for local council positions. He also criticised DAP for its "narrow" views.

This remark irked Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) who raised a point of order against Kayveas. She charged that the deputy minister bore 'ill-intent' towards her party.

However, the deputy speaker said Kayveas' statement was not directed at any particular person.

"If we take action on matters like this, many would be guilty. You may find that you are unable to say anything in the future," said the deputy speaker.

Kayveas then continued his criticism of Kelantan and Terangganu. He said PAS did not even heed DAP's suggestion to hold elections for local council members as the relation between the two parties can be considered a "one-night stand".

Earlier during the question and answer session, Kayveas said local council members do not have to be elected as they are appointed by a government democratically accepted by the people through general elections.

He said the current system, governed by the Local Government Act (1976), practised "checks and balances" as the members appointed were "responsible, had leadership qualities and can represent their communities in their designated areas".