A response on the code of ethics for judges ignited a shouting match in the Dewan Rakyat today between Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas and DAP parliamentarians.

Replying Hashim Jahaya (BN-Kuala Kedah), Kayveas said the code endorsed on Dec 22, 1994 requires all judges to comply with it. Among others, it forbids their involvement in political parties or engaging in activities above the interest of their duties.

However, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) dismissed the effectiveness of the code.

"(It) is useless and has failed," he said, referring to the absence of action against former chief justice Eusoff Chin who was alleged to have been on holiday with a lawyer while holding office.

A riled-up Kayveas retorted: "DAP is the one which is useless and has failed."

His remark drew a volley of protests from DAP parliamentarians but he repeated that the opposition party is a failure.

"Sit down. You (DAP) have to learn how to listen to people first...DAP has failed and cannot be trusted. They can't even go to the (upcoming Pengkalan Pasir) by-election in Kelantan," he said.

'Old issue'

Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam, left ) and Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah, right ) then attacked Kayveas' People's Progressive Party (PPP).

"The useless one is PPP. All PPP (members) should go back home," they shouted almost simultaneously.

Kayveas came back with: "Do you still want an answer (to the earlier question)? If you want an answer, then sit down!"

Visibly furious, Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjung) told the deputy minister not to answer and sit down.

"It's all right if you don't want an answer," replied Kayveas, who sat down.

Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib interjected and instructed the deputy minister to answer.

Complying, Kayveas said DAP should not have suggested that the government is useless in everything.

"DAP always accuses the government of being useless. The Eusoff Chin matter is an old issue. We don't know about this. If you have evidence please produce it. Otherwise don't make it an issue of it," he added.