MPs in shouting match over terror bill
A heated exchange took place between a BN MP and PAS rep during the Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Bill today.
A heated exchange took place between a BN MP and PAS rep during the Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Bill today.
While heated exchanges in Parliament are not out of the ordinary, the shouting match between Azalina Othman (BN-Pengerang) and Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) may have led those following the debates to reach for ear plugs.
A video of the exchange uploaded by BN Backbenchers’ Club (BNBBC) official portal showed Azalina first stressing that the scope of special measures against terrorism should be wider before allowing Khalid to interject in the debate.
Khalid then argued that laws should only allow punishment for those proven guilty, and not just used the excuse that war allows infringement of human rights.
He then said expressed disappointment with Azalina, saying that as her lawyer she is trained to defend human right.
The apparent personal attack did not go down well with Azalina who told him his time is up, and that he is not the only representative in the House.
"Sit down, Shah Alam, sit down! Please have some dignity Shah Alam, everyone else cannot argue, but only you can? Is Shah Alam scared? Is Shah Alam scared when BN speaks?" she asked.
Khalid’s (right) retorts drowned by Azalina’s yelling at him to sit down, but he was heard saying: "This is what happens when you join Umno, you lose your intelligence."
Deputy speaker Ismail Mohd Said then broke up the exchange by reminding Khalid that he could only interject and not debate a bill during another MP’s turn to debate.
Act of terror in the Dewan Rakyat
Although the Ismail had the floor, Azalina turned on her microphone to say: "(This is) an act of terror in the Dewan.”
Khalid however told Ismail that Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) should not have dragged his mother’s name into the matter when he joined the shouting match earlier but this alleged insult was not audible in the recording.
"Don’t drag my mother’s name into this. If you want to answer, answer with valid arguments.
"My mother is Johor Bahru’s mother, too," he said, eliciting laughter from the other MPs.
Khalid’s brother, Shahrir Samad, is BN’s Johor Bahru MP.
The Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Bill is among a list of proposed security laws introduced by government this sitting.
The Prevention of Terrorism Bill was passed in the wee hours of Tuesday, after stiff resistance from the Opposition bench who tried to push amendments during the 14-hour debate.
The House also passed amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act today, which include removing a requirement for the ministry to table an annual report on the use of the act to Parliament.
The parliament would also no longer need to renew the law every five years in order for the provisions relating to detention orders to remain valid.
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