Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak has criticised opposition lawmakers over their placard jibe at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“The action by the opposition MPs regarding their show of protest was a very childish act that demonstrated a lack of maturity,” Salleh told Malaysiakini .

He said the act was not only disrespectful of the prime minister, but also of the august House.

“We should observe not only a dress code in Parliament but a code of conduct as well. Parliament should not be turned into a circus," he added.

Opposition MPs had brandished placards that read ‘Where is the RM2.6 billion?’ after Najib concluded his Budget 2016 speech in the Dewan Rakyat.

This was in reference to the sum deposited into the prime minister’s personal bank accounts, which was later described as a "political donation" from a Middle Eastern source.

Najib had denied any wrongdoing but detractors continue to harp on the issue.

Parliament is not a market

Also criticising the opposition over the placards was Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy said while it is not wrong to ask such questions, there is a proper way of doing it.

“I am sure many will raise the (RM2.6 billion) issue during the debate (in the Dewan Rakyat) next week. But this (carrying placards) is not the way.

“Parliament is not a market,” he tweeted.