ANALYSIS | The 14th Parliament – the first one not featuring BN on the government bench – got off to a generally smooth start with markedly better-behaved MPs fit for family-friendly viewership.

However, true to the Malaysian style of parliamentary proceedings, there were some awkward and bizarre moments which drew attention away from substantive debates.

Below is Malaysiakini's top four “colourful” Dewan Rakyat moments for the recently concluded sitting, in no particular order.

1) The ‘Sesat itu neraka’ incident

On Aug 13, Dewan Rakyat first-timer Che Abdullah Mat Nawi (PAS-Tumpat) interjected when Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng was delivering his winding-up speech for the debate on the Supply (Reallocation of Appropriated Expenditure) Bill 2018.

Lim was telling the House about the privatisation of the Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Pelepas ports when Che Abdullah decided to chime in on the minister’s earlier remarks, which claimed that the opposition bench was out to sabotage efforts to abolish GST.

Che Abdullah took issue with this on grounds that PAS was against both the GST and the incoming SST. Therefore, he argued, it was unfair for Lim to criticise PAS this way.

Lim clarified that he was referring to Umno, not PAS, while adding that Che Abdullah was “sesat” (lost).

This irked Che Abdullah, possibly owing to the Malay word "sesat" which can either mean losing one's way or point, or being a deviant from a religious point of view.

Lim: Enough, I think you have missed the target. It appears that you are sesat.

Che Abdullah: It's okay, answer the question.

Speaker: The minister does not give way.

Lim: Enough, enough, you're sesat. It seems that you are sesat. I would like to go back to...

Che Abdullah: Who is the minister referring to as sesat?

After a brief befuddled pause, Lim replied: "Your argument is sesat". Subsequently, Che Abdullah demanded that Lim retract the word 'sesat'.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof then asked Che Abdullah on what grounds he wanted Lim to retract the word.

Speaker: For what reason?

Che Abdullah: Sesat itu neraka (Sesat means hell).

Speaker: What is the reason? I don't accept. (Minister) please proceed.

Lim: I will proceed (with my speech). Next time I won't give way any more.

Speaker: If this is the case, I need to bring a dictionary every day.

Lim: Yes, we need a dictionary. Thank you Yang di-Pertua.

Che Abdullah continued to protest but to no avail. Che Abdullah and Lim then got into a tit-for-tat… still about the word sesat.

Speaker: The word refers to the argument, not individual, please sit down.

Che Abdullah: In that case, I can also say the minister's answer is sesat.

Lim: Sure, that is up to you. But next time, if this is Tumpat's standard, I won't bother (giving way).

Che Abdullah: And that is the minister's standard.

Lim: No need, no need.

Speaker: Please sit down, if this is not finished – we'll all be sesat.

2) The ‘kepala bapak’ incident

After just 20 days into the sitting, RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) established himself as the backbenchers’ top enforcer – one who 'protects' the front bench from opposition assault by delivering a few jabs of his own, which earned him the title of “bully” from PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

Rayer’s repertoire involved peppering his speeches with insults against the former BN government, and interjecting during speeches by BN MPs by revisiting past scandals, and even talking about Najib Abdul Razak’s (BN-Pekan) wife.

However, it was his “kepala bapak” (your father’s head) insult that riled up the opposition bench the most.

On July 31, when deputy home minister Azis Jamman (Warisan-Sepanggar) was delivering his winding-up speech on the motion of thanks for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's speech, Rayer interjected by disputing the previous BN government's commitment to police welfare and ended his sentence with "kepala bapak."

Mahdzir Khalid (BN-Padang Terap) immediately stood up to demand an apology for using “rude” language, to which Rayer claimed that he was merely emulating Najib, who has used the phrase several times in public to describe Pakatan Harapan.

Mahdzir: Use facts, Yang Berhormat. You can use facts but don't use the word 'kepala bapak'. It is not right, you shouldn't, Yang Berhormat.

Rayer: I am merely emulating Pekan.

Mahdzir: Come on, show some respect.

Rayer: I am merely emulating Pekan.

More BN MPs continued to demand Rayer’s retraction, but he only relented when ordered by deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming to do so.

3) The F-bomb incident

As a backbencher, Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) was brash and is no stranger to making controversial statements.

As an opposition MP, he had mellowed down, even earning praise from Nga, until his outburst on Aug 7.

While debating the Sales Tax Bill 2018, Bung had related how he had gone to Selayang market and found that prices had not gone down despite the zero-rating of the GST.

At this juncture, first-term MP Willie Monging (Harapan-Puncak Borneo) cheekily asked Bung Moktar if he had gone to a casino, in reference to widely circulated photographs alleging so.

This triggered an outburst from Bung that included two mentions of the phrase “f*** you”.

Willie: Wasn't it the casino?

Bung: What is this? Insolent! This is rude. Take it back. This is insolence, Yang di-Pertua. It is indeed rude. Yang Berhormat is unworthy of sitting here. Samseng (gangster)! What do you want? (Do) you want to fight me? Anytime!

Thomas Su (Harapan-Kampar): It was just a question, YB Kinabatangan, don't get angry.

Bung: F*** you!

A slanging match erupted with MPs from both sides shouting at each other.

Amid the chaos, Bung’s voice was clearly audible, accusing Willie of being an alcoholic and soliciting sex workers.

Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who was unable to control the situation, was saved by the bell because the incident happened just before the lunch break.

When the Dewan Rakyat reconvened, Bung retracted the use of the words “f*** you” but still tried to deliver a parting shot.

"I retract the word because it was indeed rude. However, Puncak Borneo made an insinuation that was not good. I also saw him drinking with a prostitute but I didn't bother him,” Bung said.

After another round of jeering between MPs, Bung retracted his allegation against Willie.

Later, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (Harapan-Ampang) filed a motion to refer Bung to the rights and privileges committee, but it was postponed after he promised to apologise at the next Dewan Rakyat sitting in October.

4) The 'gangster' incident

Ramkarpal Singh (Harapan-Bukit Gelugor) is a polished man and a prominent lawyer. However, he had to suffer the ignominy of being the first MP to be booted from the Dewan Rakyat in the 14th Parliament.

While debating the motion of thanks for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's speech on July 18, Ramkarpal had reminded the House about how Umno Youth members, whom he described as “gangsters,” had harassed his wheelchair-bound father, the late Karpal Singh within Parliament grounds in 2009.

Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) responded saying that he agreed that the rule of law needed to be upheld, to which Ramkarpal said that the former did not dispute the gangster label.

This set off of a torrent of complaints by BN MPs, who demanded that Ramkarpal retract the statement. In the verbal melee, Bung Moktar was recorded calling Rayer a "samseng" as well.

As this was just the first day of debates proper, greenhorn deputy speaker Rashid fumbled with the rules. He ordered Ramkarpal to retract the “gangster” remark, only to reconsider later.

The more seasoned BN MPs immediately pounced on Rashid and pointed to the Standing Orders, which do not allow the speaker to change his ruling.

BN MPs rained the phrase “tarik balik” (retract) at Ramkarpal. According to the Hansard, this phrase was mentioned at least 70 times.

Like the 'F-bomb' incident, Rashid called for lunch recess when matters got out of hand.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamed Ariff Md Yusoff presided when the House reconvened after lunch and instructed both Bung and Ramkarpal to retract their statements.

Bung agreed, but Ramkarpal refused. After repeated attempts to get Ramkarpal to comply failed, Ariff finally instructed for the Bukit Gelugor MP to be ejected from the house.

Ramkarpal later said he stood by what he said about Umno Youth members harassing his father.

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