PAS lawmakers did not brandish the 'Mana RM2.6 bilion?' (Where is the RM2.6 billion?) placards because they believe in 'civil' opposition, said party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

"We are MPs, not street protesters," he said.

"We are civilised parliamentarians.We oppose with civility," he told reporters today outside the Dewan Rakyat.

Opposition MPs had carried the placards after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak concluded tabling the Budget 2016 in Parliament last Friday.

This drew criticism from government leaders, who condemned the act as childish and disrespectful.

At a press conference later, Abdul Khalid Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam) said he found Hadi's logic a bit strange as PAS lawmakers had carried placards in the House to protest the Goods and Services Tax ( GST) when the bill was being debated.

"Oh, well. That is a bit strange," he said.

"Everybody was holding placards during the (parliamentary) session when we opposed GST. At that point in time, nobody raised the issue of being rude or civilised," he noted.

PAS leaders were also seen holding placards in Kota Baru when campaigning for the Himpunan Fastaqim in Kota Baru, Khalid (photo) added.

"He has every right to oppose in whatever way he wants, while we have our right too."