Deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee today shot down a Barisan Nasional backbencher's motion to further suspend Gobind Singh Deo, the DAP MP for Puchong who has just returned to the House after serving a two-day suspension.
Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar) demanded Gobind to be punished further after the DAP MP revealed yesterday that he did not apologise to House speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia for his outburst during a heated exchange two days ago which led to his suspension.
Kiandee however ruled that Razali had used the wrong section of the Standing Orders in proposing his motion.
He suggested those who wanted to refer Gobind to the Committee of Privileges for further punishment to propose another motion under the correct section of the Standing Orders at another time.
Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) was the first to raise the matter today when Pandikar Amin chaired the session.
According to Ibrahim, news reports yesterday had given the impression that the speaker had 'lied' after Gobind denied apologising to him.
This ticked off Gobind's father, Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), who interjected Ibrahim.
“It is fine if this matter was raised by someone who is respectable but not from someone who is known as a 'frog' (a person who jumps from one party to another),” said Karpal.
“This has nothing to do with this (issue). Ini buku dengan ruas (I am your match),” said Ibrahim.
M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) then jumped in the commotion, shouting, “Katak duduk, katak duduk. (Sit down, frog. Sit down, frog)” with Ibrahim shooting back, calling Karpal “barua” (a Malay foul word for 'bastard').
Pandikar Amin tried to cool down the hot heads. “I have also have jumped from one party to another, but nobody has called me a frog.”
The speaker also added that he was “satisfied” with his decision not to impose further punishment on Gobind and he would leave the final word to the Committee of Privileges.
“Let the committee make the decision on Gobind. For me, the issue is settled,” said Pandikar Amin before leaving the meeting. Deputy speaker Kiandee then took over as chair. Gobind: Speaker not a liar
Met later in the press conference, Gobind interestingly jumped to the speaker’s defence, saying that Pandikar Amin was no liar.
"There is a move by some quarters implying that my statement that I did not apologise was tantamount to claiming that the speaker is a liar. But that is stretching it too far," Gobind said.
"This is a simple case of a misunderstanding... there are bigger issues we should worry about," he said.
Karpal, who was referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee for disciplinary action in 2004, argued that his son has the highest respect for the speaker.
“No doubt, there was a meeting with Gobind and the speaker. (For me) the speaker might have misunderstood him (Gobind) and that resulted in the backbenchers' action this morning,” he said.
The DAP stalwart said that Gobind need not be further punished.
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Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) was the first to raise the matter today when Pandikar Amin chaired the session.
"There is a move by some quarters implying that my statement that I did not apologise was tantamount to claiming that the speaker is a liar. But that is stretching it too far," Gobind said. 
