KUALA LUMPUR: When he could not back it up, a Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmaker had to retract his statement claiming that a march held last weekend was pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).
Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan) sheepishly admitted he was unsure that the weekend march was LGBT-linked after being grilled by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul.
Johari asked the Kuantan member of parliament (MP) if he could prove that the march held on Sunday (March 12) was a a pro-LGBT gathering.
"Are you sure it was an LGBT march and that it was organised by the group?
"I just want an answer, yes or no?" Johari said at the August House.
Earlier, the MPs were bickering over the march which was held to promote justice and equality for the oppressed gender.
Johari interjected, demanding an answer from Wan Razali who said, "yes, they were together."
"Everyone sit! I just want to ask Kuantan (Wan Razali) if you are sure? And, (if) you are not then say not (sure).
"Was the march organised by the LGBT group or not? If I check (and) it wasn't, then I will take action against you," he said.
Wan Razali then replied he was unsure of his claims and was told to retract his statement.
Johari then told the MPs to move on to the next topic and leave the investigations to the police.
On Sunday, Dang Wangi district police chief Assistant Comissioner Noor Dellhan Yahaya said the police were investigating the assembly and march that took place in front of the Sogo Complex and Dataran Merdeka.
He said police had opened an investigation paper under Section 9 (5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1995.
Yesterday, the organising committee of the Women's March Malaysia (WMMY) 2023 condemned the actions taken by the police towards its participants, speakers, organisers and observers.
It said the Notice 111 sent out to seven participants, speakers, and organisers of WMMY in the middle of the night marked a troubling precedent against democratic action under the newly-elected unity government.
The organisers said it took all the necessary steps to inform relevant authorities and follow the rules and regulations in place before the march.
The march is held annually since 2017, with this year having nine demands such as banning of child marriages and elimination of violence against oppressed genders and sexual minorities.