KUALA LUMPUR – The government will reach out to the Dewan Rakyat speaker over misleading remarks made by opposition lawmakers in Parliament over the past few weeks.
In saying this, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil added that the decision to contact the speaker followed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s “firm directive” to ministers during the post-cabinet meeting today.
“The cabinet meeting today discussed the debates surrounding the King’s royal address in Parliament. Several MPs made inaccurate statements that can be said to have confused the Dewan, and a series of apologies followed these remarks.
“(The prime minister) conveyed a stern statement to the cabinet (on the matter). The cabinet will be in touch with the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s Office, (as) it seems like there is an attitude of speaking first and apologising later.
“There is some dispute over whether (the MPs who issued such statements) have any remorse. It doesn’t matter whether it was Tasek Gelugor (Bersatu MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan), Pengkalan Chepa (PAS MP Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary) or Marang (PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang).”
Fahmi also said that the matters raised during the debates by various lawmakers should be addressed during the wrap-up speech by ministers scheduled to be held in the lower House next Monday.
Previously, chaos had erupted several times in the Dewan Rakyat after opposition and government lawmakers had traded barbs over numerous issues as they debated the King’s royal address. – March 8, 2024