KUALA LUMPUR: Baling Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has retracted his racist and sexist remarks of 'gelap' (dark) and 'pakailah bedak' (put on face powder), which were addressed to Batu Kawan MP P Kasthurirani during yesterday's Dewan Rakyat sitting.
Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun ruled that such remarks were un-parliamentary and ordered Azeez to retract them and apologise for using such offensive language in the Dewan Rakyat.
"After reviewing yesterday's hansard, I decided that words conveyed by Baling (MP), gelap (dark) and pakai bedak (put on face powder) are un-parliamentary and offensive. Thus, I ask Baling to apologise and retract the words. We don't want to prolong the matter. I hope Baling and other members (MPs) will not use offensive words (and) sexist remarks here."
Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) interjected and pointed out that Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (PH-Sepang) under Dewan Rakyat Standing Order 36(4) had also said something un-parliamentary, with his 'shame on you' comment, referring to Azhar.
To this, Azhar said he hoped that all MPs would be focused on debating in an orderly manner; and, among others, to seek permission from the Speaker or whichever MP had the floor before interjecting and raising a matter.
"I had a problem yesterday, YB (Kasthurirani) is seated in the public gallery (due to social distancing measures). I had difficulty locating and addressing you. I apologise."
Azeez retracted and apologised for his remarks, saying that he didn't have any intention of offending any MP, and that he was merely referring to the area where Kashthurirani was seated, which was dark and a bit hidden from the Speaker's sight.
"I was seated there (where Kasthurirani is) for two years. It is important that innocent netizens know that I didn't have the slightest intention to call anyone dark as I myself was born dark. I retract those words and apologise."
Not satisfied, Kasthurirani interjected and said Azeez is a repeat offender and had made offensive remarks during previous sessions, prompting Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) to revolt and point out that Kasthurirani had also used the derogatory term 'barua', yesterday.
The Dewan Rakyat's morning session was a stark contrast to the chaos yesterday, when Opposition MPs protested the appointment of Azhar as the speaker following the motion by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to have Tan Sri Mohd Ariff Md Yusoff vacate the post.
Among items listed in today's Order Paper are second readings for Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2019, Federal Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) 2019 Bill, and Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill.
The motion for a vote of no-confidence against Muhyiddin submitted by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Independent-Langkawi) under Standing Order 26(1), read together with Standing Order 27(3), is listed as item No. 21.