Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen sparked off a ruckus when he insisted on delivering his address in English on the Budget 2016 in the Dewan Rakyat.

The Bandar Kuching MP insisted that it is part of his constitutional right.

Chong (DAP-Bandar Kuching) said that Sabah and Sarawak MPs have the right to address the House in English as it is guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

"I wish to set the record straight that in particular that in respect of the right for members of parliament from Sabah and Sarawak, we are entitled to use the English Language in this House," he said, having started his speech in Bahasa Malaysia before switching to English.

This triggered a prolonged shouting match, which only ended after Chong completed his 10-minute speech as stipulated by the speaker.

Taking to Twitter, BN strategic communication director Abdul Rahman Dahlan asked opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to state Pakatan Harapan's stand on the usage of English in Parliament.

Abdul Rahman asked if the usage of English in Parliament was the official stand of Pakatan Harapan or if it is merely Chong's opinion.

"It is very important for Wan Azizah as the opposition leader to explain whether she agrees with DAP's stand that English can be used in Parliament," said the Kota Belud MP.

During Chong's speech on the right to use English, Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee had interrupted him, saying that he needs the speaker's permission to speak in English.

Kiandee was ignored by Chong who continued to argue his case when Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) interrupted, asking him why he was arguing over "unnecessary things".

This eventually lapsed into a shouting match, which included Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) who pointed out that not everyone in East Malaysia understands English.

‘A matter of rights’

When Chong refused to relent, Kiandee finally allowed him to continue the rest of his speech in English.

"Let this be a lesson to all of you," the DAP MP said, to which Kiandee informed him that his time was up.

This garnered laughter from the floor.

Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia later said there is no inconsistency between the usage of English in the Constitution and the Parliamentary Standing Order.

The Standing Order states that Bahasa Malaysia is the official language in Parliament, though the Speaker may allow the usage of English, he pointed out.

"However, if you want to use English throughout your debate when you can speak in Bahasa Malaysia, then you are not following Standing Order 8 which says the official language of the House is Bahasa Malaysia," he said.

Meanwhile, Chong later told reporters that this is a matter of rights.

"This is a matter of rights, not something that depends on the discretion of the speaker.

"We have no intentions of lowering the position or degrading Bahasa Malaysia. Simply, this is the right of Sabah and Sarawak.

"I think we should uphold the spirit of the Constitution," he said.