KUALA LUMPUR: Tempers flared in the Lower House today after a government backbencher described the proposal made by a Kelantan exco to transform the monsoon season in the state into a tourism attraction as "stupid."
The ruckus erupted after Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) made the remarks when debating the 2025 Supply Bill for the Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Ministry.
"I want to be frank here, I feel that the view (the proposal) is not only insensitive but very stupid too.
"How can we use the suffering of the people to create a tourism product to showcase to others abroad?
"What is more disappointing is that this statement has never been retracted and no Perikatan Nasional (PN) or Pas leader has spoken out to criticise it. Does this mean it reflects the stance of PN and Pas as well?" he said.
His remarks, however, received backlash from the opposition members of Parliament who requested him to retract his statement, including Datuk Dr Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa).
"I did not expect Tebrau (Puah) to say that. What the Kelantan exco said was not about the flood season, but the monsoon season. Those are two different things," said Ahmad Marzuk.
To this, Puah defended his remarks and said there was nothing confusing about his statement.
Puah: I did say about monsoon season as well, (and) monsoon season means there are floods, doesn't it? I did not say anything confusing.
Ahmad Marzuk: This is confusing (the House), I request that he retracts the 'stupid' statement earlier.
Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar): The statement made by the exco was done two to three weeks ago, not during the flood season now.
Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah): Retract the statement, this is a malicious and confusing statement. The exco said it (the proposal) was to help struggling traders during the monsoon season.
Following this, Suhaizan Kayat (PH-Pulai) who presided over the session said the matter was open for discussion among the members of parliament from both divides.
"This is an opinion open for discussion among each other," he said.
His statement, however, received criticism from the opposition, who shouted that it was not acceptable for the matter to be decided in such a way.
To this, Suhaizan then requested Puah to retract the statement, which the latter obliged.
Puah: I will retract (the statement) as it was requested by the speaker (Suhaizan), not because of you Pengkalan Chepa (Ahmad Marzuk).
Datuk Seri Ronald Kiande (PN-Beluran): Tebrau (Puah) is acting so arrogantly.
Puah: I withdraw the 'stupid' remark, but (replace with) unintelligent.
Ahmad Marzuk: It cannot be done in such a way. Tebrau is not that wise, he cannot tell the difference between the monsoon and floods. He still needs to learn Malay. The monsoon doesn't necessarily mean floods, the monsoon can also be used for tourism, how unwise is this?
Suhaizan then concluded the matter by saying that the issue had been resolved as Puah had retracted his statement.