Security in Parliament has been tightened following yesterday's ruckus, Dewan Negara President Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh said today.

He said this was tragic because Parliament was supposed to be a place where anyone can freely visit.

violent attack towards dap karpal singh and lim lip eng at parliament 260209 sequence Speaking to reporters after receiving a visit from European Parliament chairperson Hartmut Nassauer at his office, Hamid said the security measures, though unpleasant, had become necessary because of a group of people who did not understand that force, coercion and intimidation were not acceptable to society.

He said group visits such as of schoolchildren would not be prevented from entering the Parliament compound.

"We will only stop and impose restrictions on those who are found can disrupt or threaten peace or security of Parliament," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

No need to blacklist

A commotion broke out in Parliament compound yesterday when a group of Umno Youth members mobbed DAP stalwart Karpal Singh.

They had demanded an apology from the DAP chairperson for using the word "celaka" (damn) on Umno Youth. Several members of Parliament were also involved in the scuffle.

DAP parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng also claimed that he was hit numerous times during the 2.30pm incident, which drew flak from various quarters.

When asked whether people who created the commotion would be blacklisted from entering Parliament, Hamid said such a move was not necessary.

Parliament also would not add more security personnel but would reduce the number of visitors, he said.

He said the incident not only brought shame to Parliament but also all Malaysians.