MP posits Kelantan folk respectful as there's no DAP, House erupts

PARLIAMENT | A heated argument erupted in the Dewan Rakyat today after Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) interjected a speech by his party colleague to criticise DAP.

The PAS lawmaker interrupted a speech by Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar), which was about racial and religious harmony in PAS-ruled Kelantan.

Awang (above) cited how people in the East Coast state could speak using the same dialect, despite being from different backgrounds.

“There are no religious issues (in Kelantan) either… they respect one another… perhaps it’s because DAP has no presence there?” he said.

The Kelantan state legislative assembly is currently made up of 37 PAS assemblypersons, five from Bersatu, two from Umno, and one from Amanah.

Halimah, a Selangor assemblyperson, responded by saying people in Kelantan abide by the saying, “set kito jange pecoh” (We stick together).

However, two DAP MPs were not impressed with Awang’s remarks.

RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) stood up to retaliate, saying Kelantan is harmonious because they did not elect a representative like Awang.

Awang, a former human resources deputy minister, is a two-time MP for Pendang in Kedah.

DAP MP invokes Standing Orders

Temperatures in the Dewan Rakyat escalated further when Chong Zhemin (Harapan-Kampar) stood up and accused Awang of misleading the House.

He invoked Standing Order 36(12) which has provisions for referring MPs who act in contempt of the House to be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee.

“The Pendang MP was wrong about DAP. We do have a branch (in Kelantan). Withdraw your remarks, Pendang,” Chong said.

However, Awang defended his remarks, saying he used the word “perhaps”, which did not calm the situation. The verbal sparring continued before Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar) intervened.

Shahar chaired the session today in the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s absence.

Later, Halimah proceeded with her speech and urged the National Unity Ministry to use Kelantan as a role model for other states to emulate in terms of maintaining racial harmony.

“PAS governed Kelantan for 34 years but no vernacular school was closed and no religious sites were demolished. I urge MPs to ponder on this instead of arguing.

“So, can the National Unity Ministry use Kelantan as a model, where 96.6 percent of the people there are Muslims yet diversity is celebrated?” she asked.

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