Chaos in Parliament over motion to debate Zahid’s case, dress code

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a heated start to the special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Sept 11), with two back-to-back shouting matches on the first day.

First, the Opposition bloc wanted to know if the emergency motion to debate Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s case had been accepted.

This came after Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) stood up to ask a question.

Before he could pose his question, Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said MPs would be given a chance to raise matters which are not related to the House’s order of business, after the agenda of the special sitting concludes.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had superseded the Speaker by saying that there was no need for Parliament to debate the High Court’s decision on the Deputy Prime Minister’s Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case.

Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee(PN-Beluran) then added that it was a big issue and asked if Anwar had indeed overstepped Johari.

To this, Johari said the remarks were made outside of the Dewan Rakyat.

“The Prime Minister said it outside of Parliament. That is his right,” he said.

Kiandee also claimed that Anwar had made the decision on Johari’s behalf.

“He did not make a decision on my behalf. My decision today is that I will give Machang the opportunity later. That is my decision,” Johari said, adding that he wanted to proceed with the order of business.

When pressed by Takiyuddin over Wan Ahmad Fayshal’s emergency motion, Johari said it was rejected.

He then cited a 2021 remark by Anwar (PH-Tambun) where he had accused then speaker Tan Sri Azhar Harun of colluding to protect Takiyuddin who was law minister at the time, regarding the Emergency Ordinance issue.

“Speaker, don’t collude to protect the Prime Minister who made a ruling outside of Parliament,” said Takiyuddin.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (PN-Larut) then asked for further clarification on the rejection of the motion.

Calling on the MPs to be patient, Johari said an opportunity to discuss the matter would be given later.

“I know that the engine is still hot on the first day,” Johari said in jest while proceeding with House business.

Another brief shouting match erupted moments later over the dress code, where Hamzah asked whether a necktie and blazer were optional.

“I heard the Speaker saying that if we don’t wear a tie, we don’t need to wear a coat. So when we wear a tie, we don’t need to wear a coat?” he asked.

Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) the reacted by saying the Opposition Leader was being confusing and wasting time.

On Friday (Sept 8), Wan Ahmad Fayshal filed the emergency motion to hold a special Parliament sitting for the Attorney General to explain the decision to grant Ahmad Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).

In a Facebook post, the Bersatu Youth chief said the motion was sent to Parliament at 8.30am on Friday and requested the sitting to be held on Monday.

On Sept 4, the High Court granted a DNAA to Ahmad Zahid for all 47 graft charges involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.

Parliament is scheduled to sit for six days from Monday to table the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan and subsequently debate it.