A VOLLEY of insults thrown across the Dewan Rakyat today has incited Speaker Ariff Yusof to put his foot down and warn lawmakers to behave or risk getting kicked out. 

This followed an exchange between Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ong Kian Ming and Hamzah Zainuddin (BN-Larut) regarding foreign direct investments in the country. 

R.S.N Rayer (PH-Jelutong) then mentioned the words “kepala bapak” in wanting to ask a supplementary question related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd during the minister’s question time. 

“It would be a problem if I use the words kepala bapak (your father’s head),” he said, referring to an incident last week when Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming had ordered him to retract the same term and apologise for it.

This sparked anger from opposition lawmakers, with Hamzah urging the speaker to make Rayer retract the statement, saying it went against the Standing Order.

“Since YB Larut was offended by the term kepala bapak kamu, I will retract it,” said Rayer.

However, Abdul Rahman Mohamad (BN-Lipis) used profanity when his microphone was off but he was still heard by Ariff.

“I heard that. That was really rude. Retract it or I will have to ask you to leave,” Ariff told Abdul Rahman.

“Do not use profanities in the honourable Dewan. What was said was worse than kepala bapak,” said Ariff, adding that foul language does not benefit the Dewan Rakyat. 

Abdul Rahman then retracted his statement, saying he would do so as a lesson to Rayer.

Hamzah then urged Ariff to make Rayer promise that the latter would not use the term kepala bapak again.

Rayer agreed to do so only if nobody interrupted him as he asked his supplementary question. – August 6, 2018.