A HEATED exchange between backbenchers and the opposition over the holy ash on RSN Rayer’s (PH-Jelutong) forehead culminated in the speaker ordering two MPs out of the Dewan Rakyat chamber for two days.

Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff ordered Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) and Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) after both refused to adhere to instructions as they argued over the propriety of Tajuddin’s remark.

The order was the culmination of an almost half hour exchange between Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs and backbenchers after Tajuddin poked fun at the holy ash or vibhuthi worn by Rayer.

“Are those ashes the ashes of Chin Peng?” Tajuddin asked, provoking anger among the backbenchers in the chamber.

Rayer told Ariff that what Tajuddin said is an insult to the Hindu community.

“Ask him to apologise. BN is insulting the Hindus,” said Rayer, who was backed by his partyman Sivakumar Naidu (PH-Batu Gajah).

Vibhuti is the sacred ash made of burnt dried wood in Āgamic rituals.

Hindu devotees apply it traditionally as three horizontal lines across the forehead.

Meanwhile, Chin Peng’s ashes were brought back in September and scattered in Perak.

The reaction from the backbenchers compelled Tajuddin to retract his remarks.

But the opposition, particularly Umno members, demanded Rayer, who made a sweeping remark about BN insulting all Indians, retract his comments.

This started another round of shouting with Rayer telling Ariff that Tajuddin was part of the BN bloc and what he had said was fair comment.

“Why do I have to retract what I said? It is fair comment,” said Rayer.

By now, the chamber turned rowdy as both sides traded barbs with Tajuddin engaging in a heated exchange with Khoo, Rayer and Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor).

Ariff managed to end the shouting match but Khoo refused to relent and in the course, found himself and Tajuddin ejected.

“It’s okay to be ejected,” said Tajuddin.

“I have the Umno general assembly to attend anyway. Why not suspend me for four days instead?” he told Ariff before he left.

The entire exchange was played out in front of the delegation from the national congress of the Communist Party of China.

After Khoo and Tajuddin left, Ariff welcomed the Chinese delegation. – December 3, 2019.