Azhar Ends Dewan Rakyat Session Lectures Mps On Behaving

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PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun today ended Parliament's second Lower House session of the year but not before lecturing MPs on behaving themselves
Azhar said he had witnessed many instances where MPs did not follow the Standing Orders which dictate that they must not make remarks that are rude, sexist, hurtful, misleading, accusatory, ill-intended, petty and shallow
"I always hear these, but I give some leeway because I am new. If I am too strict, there will be complaints. But these are the Standing Orders, rules for all of us," he said
He said words such as "thief", "traitor", "mercenary" and so on could only be uttered if there was factual evidence of the matter
He also said a member of the honourable House could only be criticised by their peers for their actions in carrying out their duties, not on their personal qualities
He lamented that an MP had once been told to retract offensive remarks but had repeated them later
At this juncture, Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) interjected and claimed this was a "skill" to which Azhar replied that the speaker taking action was also a skill
The speaker also reprimanded MPs for unnecessary interruptions during debates and reminded them that he had the authority to deny a lawmaker from seeking clarification if time is running out or if the question was only meant as a disturbance
At this point, MPs took jabs at each other with RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong), Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) and Shahidan Kassim (BN-Arau) being bandied about as troublemakers
An amused Azhar merely replied, "Siapa makan cili rasa pedas" (If the shoe fits, wear it)
Lawmakers from both sides then complained that ministers were not delivering on written replies
To this, deputy federal territories minister Santhara Nair said that a written reply promised to him under Pakatan Harapan two years ago had also not been delivered yet
Azhar said he could not rule on matters before he was appointed speaker but urged ministers to fulfil their promises and deliver on written replies
A minister will usually offer to give a written reply if they don't have time to respond to an MP in the House or don't have the relevant facts at hand
Azhar was appointed Dewan Rakyat speaker on July 13 after the Perikatan Nasional government removed Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof from the post
The Dewan Rakyat is scheduled to reconvene on Nov 2 but this is subject to change
- Mkini

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