PAS members of parliament today demanded that newly elected member Othman Abdul (BN-Pendang) ( photo ) retract the words 'stupid' and ' barua ' (stooge) from his speech. They charged that the words were directed at Opposition Leader Abdul Hadi Awang.

Othman, who wrested the Pendang parliamentary seat vacated by the late PAS president Fadzil Noor two months ago, had allegedly hurled those words at Abdul Hadi, who is also Terengganu's menteri besar, when the latter was debating the Supplementary Supply Bill (2002) during its second reading today.

Syed Azman Syed Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Terengganu) who raised a point of order against Othman, charged that Othman had said that "Abdul Hadi, who wears a turban, is stupid...a barua ".

"It is an insult to the Opposition Leader and an insult to Islam," said Syed Azman, who requested for a retraction of the two demeaning words.

Several minutes of chaos

It all started when Othman stood up to ask Abdul Hadi to explain a contentious statement he had allegedly made in the 1980s. In reply, the acting PAS president said his words had been twisted by the Barisan Nasional government.

Unsatisfied with the curt response, Othman then started calling Abdul Hadi names, but heckling from the opposition nearby, who apparently heard his remarks, drowned his voice.

The House was in chaos for several minutes when PAS MPs attacked Othman en masse .

Even Husam Musa (PAS-Kubang Kerian), better known for his forbearance, was heard uttering "No shame...no shame" at Othman. He later tried to calm down his comrades by saying " relak-lah (a gentle reproach for 'cool off'), brother...", much to the amusement of those present in the House.

Deputy Speaker Lim Si Cheng had trouble bringing the house to order until he asked Othman to clarify what he had said that so raised the opposition's ire.

Othman then conceded that he had uttered the word 'stupid'. "I will humbly retract the word 'stupid'," he said, but denied uttering barua .

Hansard check

Lim accepted Othman's retraction of the word 'stupid' but said he would check the Hansard to see whether Othman had actually used the word ' barua ' on Abdul Hadi.

The word ' barua ' gained prominence when PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat used it to describe Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Brig Gen Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin in Indera Kayangan, Perlis, during the by-elections in January.

The minister in charge of the country's Islamic affairs had led the prayers in the mosque in Indera Kayangan in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

During his ceramah (public talks), Nik Aziz explained that the reason he called Abdul Hamid a " barua " was because the minister, who is also a senator, is considered a 'government stooge'.

Offended Umno members have since taken Nik Aziz and PAS to task repeatedly for uttering the 'acrimonious' word.