PN MPs' white ribbon protest 'not wrong' - deputy speaker

PARLIAMENT | Deputy speaker Ramli Mohd Nor today said he saw nothing wrong with opposition MPs wearing white ribbons in the Dewan Rakyat.

Responding to Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Ramli said that was his personal view on the matter and did not represent speaker Johari Abdul’s view.

“This is my stand, not the speaker’s. So long as the item of clothing does not go against regulations under the standing order, go ahead.

“That is my decision,” he told Bung who stood up to interject during Minister Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

“So, in your view, there is nothing wrong?” asked Bung, and Ramli (above) repeated his stand, “It is not wrong”.

“Thank you, so that means it (decision) can be an example (a precedent),” added Bung.

Bung in his question to Ramli appeared to mock Perikatan Nasional lawmakers who since yesterday have been wearing white ribbons on their left arms in a protest against Johari who ruled that six MPs sacked from Bersatu could keep their seats.

“I see the group on that side wearing large, small white bands. There are many. Has there been a disaster?” he jibed.

Yesterday, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) spoke about the protest in a poem.

“Reben putih di lengan kiri, sebagai protes berlakunya ‘reformati’ (A white ribbon on the left arm, a sign of protest that ‘reformati’ [death of reforms] has happened),” she said.

She then specified that the protest was over Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.

Article 49A contains the anti-party-hopping provision which was passed in 2022.

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