Opposition lawmaker explains why he kissed PM's hands
PARLIAMENT | Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) today explained that he was only showing courtesy to Dr Mahathir Mohamad by shaking and kissing the prime minister's hands.
Ismail also reminded RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong), who had questioned the gesture, that upholding basic courtesy and morality is one of the pillars of the Rukun Negara.
PARLIAMENT | Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) today explained that he was only showing courtesy to Dr Mahathir Mohamad by shaking and kissing the prime minister's hands.
Ismail also reminded RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong), who had questioned the gesture, that upholding basic courtesy and morality is one of the pillars of the Rukun Negara.
When debating the royal address, Ismail revealed a letter from Mahathir to the office of the Dewan Rakyat speaker stating that his question on the East Coast Railway Link (ECRL), that was initially scheduled to be answered today, had been brought forward to yesterday.
"So firstly it (the question) was brought forward and considered an urgent matter, the ECRL project for Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
"Secondly, when it was brought forward, my question became Question 1. It's a record, because never before has a question from the opposition, not from even the opposition leader, become the first question," he said.
Ronald Kiandee (Harapan-Beluran) then stood up to raise a point of order against Ismail for raising a "personal issue" in the Dewan Rakyat.
"Point of Order 36(9) states do not touch on personal issues. I think that the 'shaking hands' (moment) was a personal issue," he said.
It was reported yesterday that Ismail had approached Mahathir at the Parliament lobby to shake and kiss the Bersatu chairperson's hands.
The BN lawmaker had prefaced his question on the ECRL to Mahathir in the Dewan with a pantun taking a swipe at Bersatu.
Mahathir had been present in the Dewan to answer a series of questions on the project.
Today, Ismail also criticised the Pakatan Harapan administration for its purportedly unfulfilled promises, including curbing rising living costs.
He also took aim at Bersatu lawmaker Mohd Shaid Rosli for asking the Selangor government to consider the cultivation of marijuana plants for medicinal purposes.
