KUALA LUMPUR: Furore over a ‘gangster’ remark led to the ejection of parliamentarian Ramkarpal Singh this afternoon.
The DAP Bukit Gelugor MP was expelled from Parliament when he refused to abide by an earlier ruling for him to withdraw the remark.
Earlier this morning during debate on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s opening address, Ramkarpal’s use of the word triggered an hour plus bedlam during proceedings.
This afternoon, Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof ordered Ramkarpal to comply with the ruling initially issued by Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon.
“This is the Dewan Rakyat. Can we act a bit more mature?” Mohamad Ariff told proceedings.
"A ruling has been made, Bukit Gelugor please retract your statement. I have given a first warning. Respect the business. Sungai Petani has to continue with his speech," Mohamad Ariff said, referring to Sungai Petani's Barisan Nasional (BN) MP Datuk Johari Abdul who was supposed to have the floor.
“I cannot”, Ramkarpal replied calmly.
The situation threatened to boil over again when Datuk Ronald Kiandee (BN-Beluran) loudly asked Ramkarpal to follow the ruling and retract the statement.
“Retract. Follow the ruling,” Ronald told Ramkarpal.
This prompted several Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs asking for Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) to retract a statement with the word “gangster” he also hurled against RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) earlier this morning.
“This morning’s ruling has nothing to do with me,” Bung Moktar countered the PH MPs.
Mohamad Ariff then ordered Ramkarpal to leave the Dewan, which caused a temporary quiet among bickering MPs.
However, the Speaker did not say how long that Ramkarpal needed to stay out of Dewan Rakyat proceedings.
The situation took a more humorous turn when Bung Moktar then declared that he would retract his statement containing the word “gangster” against Rayer.
The whole incident began earlier today when Ramkarpal Singh raised an incident involving an alleged fight several years ago.
“I recall an incident involving an Umno Youth chief. They are here today. Where is he? Acting uncivilized, attacking (late DAP parliamentarian) Karpal Singh with at least five other Umno Youth members, like gangsters,” Ramkarpal said.