PROCEEDINGS in the Dewan Rakyat were disrupted twice before it adjourned for lunch today.

The first incident was when Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng broke away from the norm to respond to Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH) during the debate on Budget 2019.

“He (Anwar) is not a normal MP. The Finance Ministry wants to give the assurance that proper smallholders, fishermen, and farmers will not be left behind.  

“His suggestions are reasonable and must be taken into consideration,” said Lim.

By convention, the Finance Minister always replies to points raised during the debate when he winds up when the debates are completed.

Earlier during the debate, Anwar had suggested that the government stagger the goods and services tax refunds owing to companies to allocate funds to help smallholders, fishermen, and farmers.

“I appeal to the Finance Ministry to study and approve a sum to help rubber tappers during the rainy and drought seasons and incentives for the poorest paddy farmers.

“The previous budget for fishermen of RM12.5 million was cut to a RM3.5 million allowance. It’s a small sum that can be diverted from the GST refunds for them,” said the PKR president-elect.

The opposition, led by Annuar Musa (Ketereh-BN), had complained that Lim’s response to Anwar was unparliamentary.

“Port Dickson (Anwar) has to repair the mistakes made by Bagan (Lim), and he’s responding to cover his tracks when PD becomes prime minister later,” said Annuar.

The backbenchers, led by RSN Rayer (Jelutong-PH), wanted Annuar’s remarks about Lim to be withdrawn, prompting MPs from both sides into a shouting match.

“DAP budget”

Shortly after that, the hall erupted again when opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datoh-BN) called the budget a “DAP budget” while responding to a question from Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau-BN).

“This is a DAP budget and is not the people’s budget. This is part of their agenda, which manifests itself in the budget,” said Zahid during the debate on Budget 2019.

Khairy had asked whether it was proper for Budget 2019 to allocate funds to Chinese independent schools, as they were private schools.

At this point, Rayer stood up again to ask for the term “DAP budget” to be withdrawn as it was meant to racialise the debate.

“You’re a racist!” Rayer shouted at Zahid amid shouts from both sides.

Ariff then asked for Zahid to withdraw the remark.

“It’s not a DAP budget but the national budget. I have decided that the remark needs to be withdrawn,” said Ariff.

But the Barisan Nasional lawmakers, led by Noh Omar (Tanjong Kajang), Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan-BN), and Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak-BN) protested Ariff’s decision.

The hall erupted again before Ariff decided to adjourn proceedings as it was already 1pm. – November 13, 2018.