PARLIAMENT Pengerang MP Azalina Othman and Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang) crossed swords in Parliament this morning over the participation of children of the wealthy in the government's early childhood programme Permata.

Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lengong), when debating the budget speech had praised the government's funding of Permata, but was interjected by Zuraida.

"Does Lenggong know the Permata that is being boasted about as a 'short-cut' expenditure?

"For example, Permata Seni where children are being put together to form an orchestra.

"They are taken from among rich children who are already trained in music and put together to form a team.

"If the government is serious about helping the rakyat below, it should be recruiting from among poor children and mould them into gems,” Zuraida said.

At this, Azalina stood up and slammed Zuraida for differentiating between children of the rich and poor.

"I would like to ask, can we discriminate between rich and poor kids?

“What sort of mentality is this by Ampang? Children are children,” Azalina said.

Zuraida ( left ) then rebutted, “This programme is for the poor, not for the rich.”

Shamsul then interjected, telling the opposition not to be “jealous” of Permata.

“Do not be jealous about this programme. This is a BN programme.

“If Pakatan Rakyat in Penang feel that they can do better, or if Selangor wants to do its own programme, do it, there is no problem.

“I believe this is a very good programme which is why those on the other side (opposition) are worried,” he said.

This prompted several MPs from both sides of the divide to stand up and try to talk each other down, bringing the House into a noisy banter.

Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia finally intervened and asked all lawmakers to calm down, and then asked the meber for Lengong to proceed with his speech.

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