A Perikatan Nasional MP was ordered to leave Parliament for two days after repeatedly ignoring warnings from the deputy speaker to take a 30-minute break, following a heated exchange over Tabung Haji‘s rebranding exercise.
The incident involving Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) began when religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar spoke on non-Muslim involvement in Tabung Haji projects.
“We understand the need for rebranding, but why is the company appointed for the rebranding owned by non-Muslims?
“This is not a racist question. You want to rebrand Tabung Haji, but how can it be a company that is not Muslim? Also, how was this project procurement done?” he asked.
Na’im then explained that the appointment was done “similar to other corporate appointments”.
“All procurements go through a stringent process (of screening) before being presented to the procurement committee and approved by the board of directors,” he said.
Na’im said this screening is to ensure the interest of depositors remains the main priority, adding that previously 23 non-Muslim companies were selected when Marzuk was the deputy religious minister.
Hearing this, Marzuk said the issue was about Tabung Haji’s rebranding.
Deputy speaker Alice Lau then intervened, saying: “Those who don’t want to hear the answer can leave the Dewan.”
She then temporarily muted the microphones. After repeated warnings, she told Marzuk to leave the Dewan for 30 minutes.
“Just now, I said take a 30-minute rest. You want two days? If you continue to stand, you must leave,” she told him.
When Marzuk refused to stay silent, Lau asked him to leave the Dewan for two days.
