Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz's insensitive remarks about people with disabilities was considered 'improper' by Parliament today.

"I agree that such words were improperly used, but this has already happened and there was no immediate motion being moved at the time the remarks were made," deputy speaker Lim Si Cheng said, without making a ruling to order the remarks to be withdrawn.

Lim suggested to Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) - who protested the remarks and wanted them to be retracted today - to move another motion so that the House could decide on the matter, should Karpal remained unsatisfied.

Earlier, the proceedings were interrupted shortly after Karpal cited Standing Order 36 (4) to criticise Nazri's remarks on Monday as unparliamentary and has hurt his (Karpal's) feeling.

The DAP chairperson who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of injuries sustained in a road accident early last year was referring to Nazri's disparaging remarks made in the Dewan Rakyat.

"You are just jealous because I am standing," said Nazri after Karpal repeatedly called on the minister to sit down during a heated exchange.

Nazri and Karpal called each other 'mad' and at one point, Nazri accused Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) of being deaf, only somewhat retracting the statement upon her insistence, to say that she was 'hearing-impaired'.

Previous instances cited

Elaborating on this in the House today, Karpal cited a malaysiakini article which reported the unhappiness of several disabled groups over the insensitive remarks.

"It has since became a practice (to make insensitive remarks) in this House," argued Karpal.

He then cited previous instances made by Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas over Karpal's immobility.

In one debate, Bung Moktar had remarked that Karpal should be grateful that "he did not die" and questioned why the opposition leader was still attending the parliamentary proceedings when the latter was "about to die".

"Can the minister (Nazri) or his representative from the ministry retract what he said because this incident has been recorded in the Hansard and history will record that nothing was done to this minister (for what he did)," said Karpal.

As the deputy speaker asked the matter to be put to a rest, Fong protested, "I have read the Hansard and (the speaker) did not decide on the matter when it happened. The statement should be retracted to keep the House's reputation in order."

The House then witnessed a shouting match among MPs which lasted for 10 minutes.

Bung Mokhtar repeated stood up to exclaim, "He (Karpal) wants people to retract words but he uses improper words himself and picks fights (with other MPs)," drowning Fong's voice.

Joining in the fray, Suhaili Abdul Rahman (BN-Labuan) made references for the opposition voice to 'go back to the circus' in between the ruckus.

Opportunity for minister

The deputy speaker tried to appease the MPs and said, "I have to stress that both parties used improper words. I hope that Bukit Gelugor (Karpal) can agree that if any such words were to be used again, we will take action."

Clearly unhappy with the deputy speaker's decision, Karpal retorted, "It's better to give an opportunity to the minister to retract his statement before I take any action."

Further shouting from Barisan Nasional MPs then ensued which prompted Karpal to ask the deputy speaker to control these 'biadab (rude) people' before the hall erupted.

Yelling above the other MPs, Bung said that Karpal should retract his statement.

He was pointing at Karpal and repeatedly shouted, "He's more biadab, he's sitting and speaking. He is also biadab," amidst the commotion.

The deputy speaker later managed to bring calm to the House and warned that respect should be given to all present in the House.

He then addressed Karpal, "You have also used unruly words before, what's past is past. We have to carry on with our affairs today.

"(As to) how we are going to solve this, I would like to remind all of you that unsuitable words shall not be used in the House again," Lim said before moving to another parliamentary matter.