Fadhlina Urges Lawmakers To Mind Their Words In Dewan Rakyat

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PARLIAMENT | Lawmakers have been reminded to watch their conduct and ensure civilised proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat, amid charges brought against a group of students for alleged bullying.
Addressing the lower house today, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (Harapan-Nibong Tebal) said the speaker should enforce his authority to ensure that MPs are prevented from using insulting language.
“Insults and inappropriate language can also be seen (used) in this very house. As adults, we must set an example for the younger generation,” Fadhlina said in her winding-up speech for the 13th Malaysia Plan.
She also referenced a poem by WS Rendra titled “Angkatan yang Gagap” on the failure of a generation that failed to provide guidance or serve as role models for its people.
“The poem refers to a generation that failed to offer guidance and role models, which in turn caused the failure of the next generation. This is something we must avoid,” she added.
She said this in response to an interjection from Bersatu MP Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota), who highlighted that students should be educated against using insulting language.
Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah talking about Zara Qairina Mahathir’s case in Dewan Rakyat todayThe former minister pointed to the case where five teenagers accused of bullying 13-year-old schoolgirl Zara Qairina Mahathir were charged at the Kota Kinabalu Children's Court today.
The teenagers are accused under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code, read with Section 34, for allegedly making threatening or insulting communications with common intention.
They face up to one year in prison, a fine, or both.
On Monday, Johari suspended Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) for 10 days under Standing Orders 44(2) over an alleged physical threat made in the Dewan Rakyat last week.
Addressing the incident, Johari said: “Secondly, what hurt me… broke my heart. We talk about the behaviour of young children in school, but we ourselves act like this in front of children.” - Mkini

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