Merdeka! Merdeka!! Merdeka!!! Merdeka!!!! Merdeka!!!!! Merdeka!!!!!! Merdeka !!!!!!!
No need to go to hell this Merdeka.
Selamat Menyambut Merdeka Ke 50.
Dewan Rakyat: MPs in shouting match over ‘unpatriotic’ remark
Reports by V. Vasudevan, Anis Ibrahim and Eileen Ng
A SEEMINGLY harmless question on student discipline sparked a debate on the issue of patriotism in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
And in the exchanges, the DAP MPs were accused of being unpatriotic for remaining seated when Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar led the house in shouts of “Merdeka” before the sitting began.
It all started when Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar, replying to a question by Datuk Abdul Rahman Ariffin (BN-Jerlun), said that parent-teacher associations had helped to improve discipline in schools.
“I was, however, sad to note that the DAP was involved in alerting the media about the slapping of a student at SM Raja Lumu in Pandamaran, Klang in July.
“I was surprised to see the lobby full of reporters and camera crew whom the DAP had informed,” he added.
That led Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN-Jasin) to remark: “That is typical of the DAP, they are unpatriotic, they did not rise when we shouted Merdeka just now.”
Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) replied hotly: “How dare you call us unpatriotic! We were not given prior notice about it (the expression of support for Merdeka).”
Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) joined in shouting: “Traitor! The DAP is unpatriotic.”
A riotous 15-minute shouting match ensued between the DAP and BN legislators to the amusement of a group of students who had come to observe the proceedings.
“Retract your statement that we are unpatriotic,” shouted Lim.
Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib tried to appease the DAP members, saying that Bung Mokhtar had not meant what he said.
“He did not mean you were unpatriotic, it was said on the spur of the moment.”
The DAP MPs, however, did not appear convinced and all stood up, waving copies of the Federal Constitution and the Dewan Rakyat Standing Order book.
Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) urged Ramli to take action against Bung Mokhtar. “Tan Sri, take action against him. This is unparliamentary behaviour.”
“Kinabatangan’s brutish nature hasn’t been dealt with yet,” said Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjong), drawing chuckles even from BN MPs.
“Go to hell!,” replied Bung Mokhtar.
That led Ramli to interject: “Don’t say things like that, Yang Berhormat. Don’t utter words which are hurtful to others.
“I will not take any action against anyone except to warn and remind MPs not to utter such words again.”
Later at a press conference, Lim expressed regret at what he described as “unparliamentary behaviour”.
He said this had demeaned parliament and degraded the country’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Lim said it was wrong to spring such surprises, referring to Raja Ahmad’s action in shouting Merdeka.
“They should have followed proper procedure, which is moving a motion to express support for the nation’s independence.”
