Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today the commotion the opposition raised in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday is "shameful" and a "dark moment" in the history of the Malaysian Parliament.

He said the opposition might have planned the commotion because they could not defend their stance, and it showed that they did not respect the protocols and conventions of Parliament, which is the apex of democracy in the country.

"The incident is shameful, with the disrespect shown to the speaker and the abusive language directed at him and their statement that they (the opposition) would drag the speaker to court. To me, the action is not only irresponsible but also unparliamentary," he told reporters here.

The sitting had become more chaotic when the opposition produced placards with words promoting their cause to protest against the suspension of Anwar Ibrahim over the Apco issue, and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh and two others for contempt of Parliament.

Campaign capital for Pakatan

Muhyiddin was sure that the opposition would use the suspension as campaign capital, and that their leader, Anwar, would go around the country twisting the issue.

He said that a partner in the opposition pact was in a crisis and in its "topsy turvy state" looking for something to be used in its campaign, and all of them would tour the country claiming that democracy was dead.

Muhyiddin added: "They are saying that the action had been taken because we want to increase our majority to two-thirds in Parliament, which is completely untrue.

"They should not lie thinking that the people do not know that the suspension does not mean that our seats in the Dewan Rakyat is increased. The number remains 137 (out of 222)."

- Bernama