The Dewan Rakyat turned tense this afternoon after two PAS MPs described PKR as being “full of corrupt” politicians, drawing protests from a backbencher.
Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) had interjected during Che Zulkifly Jusoh’s (PN-Besut) budget debate to ask whether he agreed with the label.
Che Zulkifly replied in the affirmative, triggering an immediate point of order from Dr Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani), who said the remark was a malicious accusation that cast aspersions on PKR MPs in the House.
The PKR MP added that the Dewan Rakyat should not allow blanket allegations of corruption to be levelled against members of the House.
On recent allegations raised against PKR’s Shamsul Iskandar Akin, Taufiq said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had accepted Shamsul’s resignation as his senior aide.
He said that Anwar, the PKR president, had also welcomed an investigation of the Melaka PKR chief by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Deputy speaker Ramli Nor upheld Taufiq’s objection, ordering the duo from PAS to retract their remarks and warning that failure to comply could lead to a minimum five-day suspension and a fine.
However, Rosol argued that the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders did not apply as his remark was in reference to the party and not individual MPs.
Ramli dismissed this, saying PKR MPs in the Dewan Rakyat were clearly implicated by his statement. Rosol and Zulkifly then withdrew their remarks.
