“ELECTION fever” apparently hit the Dewan Rakyat last week.
Although there were no signs that the general election will take place anytime now, MPs from both sides of the House accused each other of claiming political mileage to prepare for the elections.
The torching of the Jalur Gemilang during a riot in Kuala Terengganu last Saturday was also highlighted.
MPs were in agreement that it was wrong for those concerned to burn the national flag, stressing that it was an insult to the country’s sovereignty.
But their views clashed when the Opposition said the police should not have used aggression to control the crowd.
When Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang raised the issue in his debate on the Budget, Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN – Sri Gading) interjected and thanked Lim for criticising the parties involved for burning the flag.
But all niceties ended there. He noted that Lim was only critical in Parliament and “if there is an election the next day, these people will be the ones supporting the Opposition.”
Lim retorted that Mohamad’s statement was uncalled for, pointing out that the Opposition would criticise anything that was not right.
He also said it was not fair for the police to reject the permit application for the ceramah at the last minute, especially when the organisers, Bersih, had applied much earlier.
At this juncture, Mohamad stood up and said the organisers should not have continued with the talk if they did not have a permit.
“The police did not want to cause chaos but the Opposition wanted to be popular. There were no issues so they kicked up a riot. This was the problem.
“I beg the Opposition Leader not to support law offenders. Just because the election mood is near, everyone is getting the fever, (everyone) wants to be popular,” he said.
Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar’s (BN – Larut) also raised the flag burning issue in his speech.
A shouting match eventually broke out when Lim tried to correct Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan), who had compared the incident with that involving Wee Meng Chee, the student who created a controversy for performing a rap version of Negaraku.
But when Raja Ahmad Zainuddin refused to allow Lim to intercept longer, the veteran DAP leader made a snide remark against him over his loss of the vice-president's post in the FA of Malaysia’s election on Sunday.
“Is there a Standing Order that allows a person to get angry for losing in the football association yesterday? (He) had to get out. Finished!” said Lim.
Raja Ahmad Zainuddin and his fellow backbenchers then countered the remark by jeering at DAP for “getting pushed around in the last general election.”
“From Malacca to Penang. (But) people pushed to Perak. What is this? Hopping around like a frog?” Raja Ahmad Zainuddin said amidst the commotion.
Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN – Jerai) then said there was nothing else for DAP to talk about, as the party had lost most of its seats in the previous elections.
“What have you got to say about losing in the last elections, Yang Berhormat (Lim)? How many states?” he said.
Meanwhile, Wong Nai Chee (BN – Kota Melaka) urged the Government to review the requirement for public-listed companies to submit an analysis involving the racial and gender composition of their workforce.
He said such a move was an act of micro restructuring, which was against the stand of MCA.
“What is the purpose of the analysis? Is the Government trying to ensure that companies have 30% bumiputra workforce?
“The recruitment of staff should be based on the person’s qualifications, experience and capabilities,” he said, when contacted later.
He said the companies should not be compelled to undertake programmes to develop bumiputra vendors, as this would sideline other vendors.
The Dewan adjourned on Wednesday for the Ramadan and Hari Raya break. It will sit on Oct 22.
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