Chaos in Dewan Rakyat as opposition MPs stage walkout during 12MP MTR wrap-up

KUALA LUMPUR - Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat, today, after a heated argument during the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) wrap-up session by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The chaos started when Datuk Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) stood up and urged Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to order Anwar to retract an alleged malicious statement against him (Radzi).

It continued when other opposition leaders also stood up to defend Radzi.

Subsequently, Johari asked Anwar to provide an explanation regarding the statement, but the opposition MPs were dissatisfied with the explanation.

Radzi then insisted for Johari to order Anwar to retract his statement.

However, Johari said Anwar has given a proper explanation and asked all the council members to sit down and allow the wrap-up session to continue.

Radzi was still dissatisfied and turned emotional.

His refusal to give way for the session to proceed caused Johari to make a decision asking the former to leave the hall.

All the other opposition leaders had then left the parliament together with Radzi.

In a press conference at the Parliament lobby, Radzi said he was defending his dignity.

“If you saw my record in Parliament, I’m a polite person and a person who follows the rules. What I asked for was clear, it was for the prime minister to retract the statement.

“I understand the rules in Parliament, but at the same time this place is where we stand for the justice for the public,” he said.