A ruckus broke out in the Dewan Rakyat today, when Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) made a remark about menstruating women.

Debating the Sedition Act amendment bill, he questioned if some female non-Muslim Pakatan MPs were menstruating when visiting mosques in their constituencies.

"If women as elected representatives go for breaking fast events in the mosque compound that's fine, but if they enter the mosque, we don't know if she bocor (leaks) or not," he said.

When asked what he meant, Abdul Azeez replied: " Paip bocor (leaking pipes), what's the problem?”

Azeez, who is also Tabung Haji chariperson said this on the topic of respecting Muslim sensitivities.

The remark sparked an outrage among several Opposition MPs, including Hanipa Maidin (PAS-Sepang) (left) .

Blood is considered impure in Islam, and menstruating women are prohibited from praying or entering a mosque while some scholars say the prohibition is only for the main prayer hall.

Speaker puts foot down

Abdul Azeez then tried to deny that he had said such a thing, but was threatened by speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to retract his statement, or get booted out.

"Thank you speaker, even though I didn't say it, I retract it,” he said half-heartedly.

This sparked more outrage, before Pandikar threatened to boot out other MPs, including Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) (right) , if they do not pipe down.

Pandikar then asked the Baling MP to retract his statement again, only to get another half-hearted reply.

"I retract it. If they misunderstood me, then I retract it," he said.

Despite some displeasure, the commotion died down and debate on the amendment bill continued.

This is not the first time such a remark has been made in the House.

In 2007, Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) likened the leaking parliament roof to then Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan's menstrual cycle, prompting much outcry.

Bung apologised and was forced to explain his remarks to then Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil.