The Dewan Rakyat session today saw the return of one its unsavoury features when several of its members traded insults and called each other names while debating the motion to thank the royal address.

The heated moments began after the answer-and-question session this morning when Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timur) was about to continue his speech. Before he could do so, Badruddin Amiruddin (BN-Jerai) attempted to invoke a standing order claiming Lim had incited racial sentiments.

"In his speech yesterday, he (Lim) made very dangerous (remarks). The Malays have sacrificed a lot for this multi-racial nation. Why you want to raise matters that incite (sentiment) and make people clash against each other?" asked the Jerai MP (left).

Yesterday, Lim has said that the Malaysian civil service, after nearly half a century of nationhood, was increasingly regarded by many as a Malay civil service rather than a Malaysian civil service.

Responding, Lim said Badruddin has abused the standing order process. "You can invoke the standing order but don't give a speech after that," he said.

Badruddin persisted with: "You are inciting people. Why can't I reprimand you? You should apologise to Malaysians and the Malays." At this juncture Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib tried to calm the situation by suggesting Lim continue his speech but was ignored.

Verbal abuse

"He has abused the standing order. I won't give way to people who do not have standards. These are people who don't have brains," said an irked Lim, adding Parliament wasn't an 'animal farm'.

The furious Badruddin then shouted: "Do you have a brain? You are inciting people. You have otak binatang (an animal's brain)."

The house then erupted in a commotion with parliamentarians from both sides hurling verbal abuse at each other.

Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) stood up and invoked a standing order against Badruddin for un-parliamentarian behaviour but was instead told by the latter: "You are an ular sawa (python)".

They only cooled down when Ramli finally managed to get the MPs attention and firmly ordered them to stop uttering insulting words.

Another round of chaos had occurred earlier when wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) ( right) ) tabled a motion to refer Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister Department M Kayveas to the Parliamentary Privilege Committee for misleading the house over an alleged assault involving a judiciary member.

Karpal had sought an answer on the progress of an investigation involving a sessions court judge who had allegedly assaulted a court staff. Karpal said Kayveas' answer in the House yesterday totally contradicted the written reply given to him (Karpal) in the afternoon.

Serious matter

Kayveas had answered that the case was closed and no action had been taken against the judge. "But the written answer that I have is that a police report has been lodged against the judge and the police have yet to submit the result of the investigations," Karpal said.

Ramli then advised Kayveas to clear the air. "I think this is a serious matter. I think I should give the YB (Kayveas) who is also in the House the chance now to explain," he said.

Complying, Kayveas (left) stood up and explained that the oral answer he gave in the House was the latest that he received from the Attorney-General's Chamber when he was in the House.

"I think he (Karpal) is tak siuman (crazy). He has lost his mental (faculties). ' Otak sudah rosak' , (the brain is damaged)," he uttered.

Karpal, unfazed, replied. "This is a serious matter. Why didn't he clarify before I tabled the motion?"

The speaker tried to convince the DAP parliamentarian that he accepted Kayveas's explanation but Kula Segaran (DAP- Ipoh Barat) stood up and said, "This is a motion. Can you let the MPs vote?" adding that he supported Karpal's motion.

This was met with: "I think they just want publicity. Cheap publicity!" from Kayveas.