The Dewan Rakyat was thrown into chaos today when several members of Parliament from BN demanded M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) retract his statement when he called the Minister of Education deaf.

NONE Kulasegaran ( left ) insulted the minister for allegedly ignoring feedback and objection from the Indian community against the use of the novel 'Interlok' as a required text in the Malay Literature in Form Five.

"Why the government is still using ‘Interlok'. He (minister of education) evaded my question. He said 'for YB information, an independent panel was set up by ministry to study the content, an announcement will be made'.

"This is a lie as the novel is already being used in schools. Is the officer does not know my question or the minister is deaf? This has angered the Indian community," he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address.

Mohd Nor Othman (BN-Hulu Terengganu) interjected and asked Kulasegaran to withdraw the statement followed Hamin Samuri (BN-Ledang) and Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan (BN-Kota Belud), who also intervened, causing the proceeding to become chaotic.

Kulasegaran was also rebuked by Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, who reminded him against using impolite words.

Meanwhile, Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) proposed that telecommunications companies send text messages on the latest development on earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which had resulted in radioactive leakage from nuclear power plants.

She said the prime minister should advise telcos to carry out their corporate social responsibility by relaying accurate information on the latest situation to avoid confusion due too many text messages and e-mails whose authenticity was suspect.

The sitting resumes tomorrow.

- Bernama