PAS MP ejected from Dewan for calling Guan Eng 'pondan'

PARLIAMENT | A ruckus occurred in the Dewan Rakyat today when Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa) was ejected for calling Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng "pondan" (effeminate).

The slur was uttered during a heated exchange between Ahmad and Lim, which followed the former alleging that the "DAP-dominated" Finance Ministry had opened up bumiputera-only contracts to other races.

Under the previous BN administration, the PAS lawmaker claimed, these contracts were only reserved for Class F and G1-class bumiputera contractors.

"I hope the minister won't run away from answering. If this is true, we are worried about bumiputera contractors and equity," he said during the debate of the Supplementary Budget 2019 (2018) Bill.

"It is not too much if I ask whether this is part of the agenda of the new DAP-dominated government and Finance Ministry, which goes against bumiputera rights."

This drew immediate rebuke from RNS Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) and Cha Kee Chin (Harapan-Rasah). 

Open tender process

In winding up the policy stage of the bill, Lim explained that the bumiputera-only tender system is open to all bumiputera contractors.

“I regret that he (Ahmad) is playing up sentiments on open tenders. Let me answer first. 

"When we practice the open tender system, we are using a method that is different from the previous, which is open to all bumiputera contractors, such as F and G1-class contractors.

"We are still using the old method, but it is now passing through an open tender process – unlike in the past, where there was direct negotiation and direct awards, or where the approval of a political party division chief was required.”

'Saya anak jantan'

Ahmad did not accept Lim's explanation, however, and proceeded to read out "evidence" of bumiputera contractors being sidelined from his mobile phone. 

Lim, who is also the Bagan MP, then asked Ahmad to show him this purported "evidence" after the sitting. 

This led to another shouting match erupting in the Dewan, with Ahmad exclaiming: "Saya anak jantan, bukan pondan macam Bagan (I am male, not effeminate like Bagan)." 

Fahmi Fadzil (Harapan-Lembah Pantai) then leapt into the fray, demanding that Ahmad retract the slur.

Despite deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon giving him three chances to retract, the PAS lawmaker refused to do so. 

This prompted Rashid to eject Ahmad and issue a two-day suspension.

Subsequently, PAS and BN lawmakers staged a mass walkout in solidarity.

When met at the lobby, Ahmad defended his "pondan" remark, explaining that he felt the finance minister did not dare to respond to his question.

He said he wanted to show evidence that bumiputera contractors were forced to compete with larger contractors controlling the supply of construction equipment.

Ahmad claimed that he had asked Lim to give him an opportunity to substantiate his statement so that he could retract his "pondan" remark.

"So, a better term (for me) to use is 'tak jantan' (not male)," he said.

Meanwhile, Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) claimed to have proof of several contracts being awarded via direct negotiation – including maintanance of the Equanimity superyacht, and the procurement of dual-language programme (DLP) Mathematics and Science textbooks.

When met at the Parliament lobby, Lim chided the opposition for continuing to harp on racial sentiments over government contracts.

"If we are handling the procurement contract, we use the old method. But the difference is that we do it via open tender," he stressed. 

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