PARLIAMENT Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia scolded several MPs today for picking on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Wahid Omar, who was winding up the second reading of a Bill, a first for the senator.
 
Wahid, when winding up during the second reading of the Malaysian Airline System Berhad (Administration) Bill 2014, had humbly admitted that it was his first time and apologised if he were to make any mistakes.
 
But soon after, at least half a dozen MPs tried to interject him at different points of his speech.
 
Instead of ignoring them as many ministers usually do, the soft-spoken Wahid allowed them to interrupt, prompting Pandikar to eventually remind him that he had a right to refuse interjections.
 
However, Wahid later again found himself in the middle of shouting match between Jamaluddin Jarjis (BN-Rompin) and Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) after allowing them to interject.
 
Jamaluddin had lamented that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) had slid into financial woes repeatedly and asked for Wahid's assurance that this Bill to rescue the troubled company would be the last.
 
At this, Pua (right) pointed out that Jamaluddin was second finance minister when MAS fell into financial trouble in the past, prompting the latter to lash out.
 
"Tony Pua was a bankrupt too, he was bankrupt when he was in Singapore," yelled Rompin, to which Pua challenged that he repeat the words outside the House, where he would not have immunity.
 
Chaos descends

Wahid stood watch at the bantering as the house descended into chaos, prompting Pandikar to come to his rescue.
 
"In this House, there are all kinds of personalities, some are gentle (lemah lembut) that they will not raise their voice, some are aggressive, some are thick-faced and some are insistent.
 
"This minister is in the category of gentle personalities, he cannot be hit out at like that because his background is not like Rompin or Petaling Jaya Utara.
 
"As a speaker, I must protect everyone including minority interests or those with different personalities.
 
"If there are any more outbursts like this, I will not hesitate to give both of you a recess and you guys can have coffee outside," said Pandikar (left) sternly.
 
Unsatisfied, Pua cited a standing order, demanding that Rompin retract the false allegation that he was a bankrupt.
 
At this, Jamaluddin changed tack, saying: "I did not say you are bankrupt, I said you are bankrupt of ideas", prompting loud laughter from BN MPs.
 
Pandikar later urged Wahid to continue on with his winding up speech and reminding the house not to interrupt as there was a long list of laws to pass on the last day of sitting today.
 
Wahid, in his winding up speech, addressed queries from Wong Chen (PKR-Kelana Jaya) about a last minute amendment to the Bill.
 
The minister said the amendment is to ensure that companies which have existing contracts with MAS cannot arbitrarily cancel their services during the transition administration period and must provide compensation if they do so.
 
The Bill was passed with majority voice. The sitting is expected to extend into the late night as there are five more laws to be passed.
 
Seven other Bills were withdrawn as there was not enough time. 
 
Today is the last day of the Dewan Rakyat sitting and the next session will only reconvene next year.
 
Wahid, who is a former Maybank chief executive officer, has no political affiliation and was roped into the government after the last general election to assist on financial matters.


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