Dewan Rakyat Commotion: Speaker allows Wan Ahmad Fayhsal's to speak after PM speech
NURHIDAYAH HAIROM
KUALA LUMPUR - The Special Session of the Dewan Rakyat, which commenced today, descended into chaos when Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) stood up to raise an objection during the opening of the session.
Permission to speak was immediately denied by Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Johari Abdul but had instead promised to allow Machang to speak after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivers his speech.
"We have discussed with Machang earlier to maintain a calm atmosphere so that everyone can benefit.
"We want to hear important matters, and I will give the opportunity after the prime minister's speech," he said.
This raised dissatisfaction from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), who inquired whether the motion to discuss the decision to discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, on 47 charges related to Yayasan Akalbudi, had been approved or not.
Takiyudin also questioned how Machang could speak when the motion had not been accepted.
He also raised allegations that Anwar, who is Tambun MP, had made a decision on behalf of Johari.
Johari denied these claims.
"The PM spoke outside of Parliament, and that was not my decision.
"He did not make a decision on my behalf. My decision is to give an opportunity to Machang," he said.
The commotion, which lasted for about 18 minutes, also drew reactions from government parliamentarians, including Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong), who criticised the opposition for disrupting the session and accused Johari of colluding with Anwar.
During the commotion, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal announced that the motion had been rejected.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (PN-Larut) then questioned how it could be discussed if it had already been rejected.
Johari responded, asserting his right to not allow Machang to speak since the motion had been rejected but he still was the one who made the decision.
