Monkey business in the House ...again
Published: Nov 24, 2005 8:37 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The 'monkey' issue once again made its presence felt in the Dewan Rakyat when opposition leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) raised it today.
The 'monkey' issue once again made its presence felt in the Dewan Rakyat when opposition leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) raised it today.
Refusing to let the matter rest, he questioned Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas' move to retract the words 'like a monkey' and not the word 'monkey'.
According to Bernama, he said the deputy minister should be referred to the special privileges committee for further action.
Yesterday, Kayveas drew flak when he likened opposition parliamentarians to monkeys for not letting him answer a question on the backlog of court cases.
Subsequently, a heated exchange erupted witnessed by a delegation from the European Parliamentary Union, leading Kayveas to accuse the opposition of shaming the country.
The deputy minister later retracted his remark after being instructed to do so by the Speaker.
Case closed
However, Lim, who raised the issue before the debate session began this morning, remained dissatisfied.
"Look at the television, in the tape, he (Kayveas) uttered the word 'monkey' three times. He said ...one monkey in front, one more behind and one more monkey has stood up.
"He retracted the words 'like a monkey' only...(the word) 'monkey' has not been retracted, because of this it is suggested that he be referred to the special privileges committee for using a derogatory and unsuitable word in Parliament," said the opposition leader.
Lim also chided the media for giving greater coverage to that issue instead of other matters discussed during the sitting.
Responding, Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib said he considered the matter resolved.
"Initially, such a word is not proper to be uttered in this noble House and I have asked him (Kayveas) to retract it and in my understanding he did retract both words so I assume the matter has been resolved," he added.
At this point, Raja Ahmad Zainudin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) dan Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) interjected and stressed that the matter has been resolved and the House has other more important issues to deal with.
Refusing to let the matter rest, he questioned Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas' move to retract the words 'like a monkey' and not the word 'monkey'. According to Bernama, he said the deputy minister should be referred to the special privileges committee for further action.
Yesterday, Kayveas drew flak when he likened opposition parliamentarians to monkeys for not letting him answer a question on the backlog of court cases.
Subsequently, a heated exchange erupted witnessed by a delegation from the European Parliamentary Union, leading Kayveas to accuse the opposition of shaming the country.
The deputy minister later retracted his remark after being instructed to do so by the Speaker.
Case closed
However, Lim, who raised the issue before the debate session began this morning, remained dissatisfied.
"Look at the television, in the tape, he (Kayveas) uttered the word 'monkey' three times. He said ...one monkey in front, one more behind and one more monkey has stood up. "He retracted the words 'like a monkey' only...(the word) 'monkey' has not been retracted, because of this it is suggested that he be referred to the special privileges committee for using a derogatory and unsuitable word in Parliament," said the opposition leader.
Lim also chided the media for giving greater coverage to that issue instead of other matters discussed during the sitting.
Responding, Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib said he considered the matter resolved.
"Initially, such a word is not proper to be uttered in this noble House and I have asked him (Kayveas) to retract it and in my understanding he did retract both words so I assume the matter has been resolved," he added.
At this point, Raja Ahmad Zainudin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) dan Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) interjected and stressed that the matter has been resolved and the House has other more important issues to deal with.
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