KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul sternly warned Parliamentarians to avoid involving house speakers and their deputies in their political manoeuvres.
His directive came in response to a recent commotion sparked by comments from Pendang member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Awang Hashim.
Expressing his displeasure, Johari emphasised that he had sounded the warning and preferred not to prolong the matter.
"It struck a chord with me. Refrain from attacking the speaker. It yields no benefits.
"If you do not like me, then put in a motion," he said when he resumed today's afternoon session.
Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan suggested that such remarks might have surfaced due to a perceived bias by the opposition and a sense of injustice.
In response, Johari demanded examples of when such injustices occurred.
"Give me (an) example (when) you said (there is an) injustice. Give me an example," quipped Johari in a stern voice.
Wan Saiful cited an instance when the opposition was denied the opportunity for follow-up questions during the Q&A session as the government side had monopolised the time.
"Both (speakers and MPs) can play a part in this, and I hope fairness will be exemplified next time," he said.
The "temperature" in Dewan Rakyat rose after the government backbenchers had a prolonged argument over the "anak papa" (father's son) remark made by Awang towards Sungai Petani member of parliament Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari.
The uproar originated when Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) questioned Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau about a motion he had submitted two days earlier.
Shahidan also pointed out that Dr Taufiq's motion concerning the seizure of 180 metric tonnes of local white rice in Kedah was allowed for debate even though it was submitted just a day earlier.
Following this, Awang (PN-Pendang) quipped with the "anak papa" remark, which pulled a trigger among the government backbenchers who requested the Pas MP to retract the comment.
