PAS and Barisan Nasional members walked out of the Dewan Rakyat sitting today after one of its parliamentarians was given the boot for calling Lim Guan Eng a pondan (transvestite).

The Islamist party’s Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary was given the marching order after he likened the finance minister to a transvestite.

Lim had refused Ahmad’s repeated request to interject and clarify points, which led to use of the word against the DAP secretary-general.

“Saya anak jantan. Bukan pondan macam Bagan (I am a man. Not a pondan like Bagan),” the religious teacher shouted at Lim, who is also Bagan MP.

Lim had been replying to points raised during the debate on the supplementary supply bill.

Lim was in the midst of explaining the government’s plan to sell a building in Hong Kong via open tender when Ahmad interjected about how open tenders would sideline Bumiputera contractors.

“This is unrelated. And, the government has been practicing open tenders to Bumiputera,” Lim replied.

Ahmad, in not accepting his answer, tried instead to read something from his phone about how Bumiputera contractors are sidelined under the open tender system.

When Lim refused to give Ahmad the floor, Ahmad shouted: “I’m a man. And not a transvestite like Bagan.”

Amid the ensuing chaos of shouts from the opposition, Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai-PH) asked Deputy Speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon tried to get Ahmad to retract his the derogatory remark.

Despite three warnings to get the PAS politician to withdraw the remarks, Ahmad refused, forcing the deputy speaker to order him to leave. 

“I want you to leave. Please leave now,” said Rashid.

Before exiting, Ahmad tried to repeat his statement, but refrained as the sergeant-at-arms waited to escort him out.

In a parting shot, Che Abdullah Mat Nawi (Tumpat-PAS) shouted: “He (Lim) should show his manliness (jantan) and not (be) a transvestite.”

All remaining PAS MPs then stood to leave with Ahmad, leaving Barisan Nasional MPs unsure of what to do next.

“Doesn’t BN want to leave, too? What kind of solidarity is this?” Deputy Human Resources Minister Mahfuz Omar asked the stunned BN MPs.

After a few minutes, the BN MPs then followed PAS’ lead and left the Dewan.

Lim finished his speech and the policy stage of the supplementary supply bill without any further opposition.

At the end of the session, Rashid announced that Ahmad would be suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for two days for his unparliamentary remark. – April 2, 2019.