DEPUTY Primary Industries and Commodities Minister Willie Mongin was accused of flashing his middle finger at the opposition today, as Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun lost control of lawmakers in the debating chamber.

After Willie, the MP for Puncak Borneo, had finished his speech on the budget allocation for his ministry (committee stage), the opposition asked Azhar to make a ruling on an unparliamentary remark made by Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak).

During the debate, Tajuddin had called Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman (Ind-Muar) “budak” or boy again, in reference to his youth.

Yet, instead of arbitrating, Azhar brushed aside the opposition’s request as “just a joke”, prompting the opposition to ask for a division vote for the Primary Industries and Commodities Ministry budget.

Earlier in the day, the opposition did not call for any division vote when budget funding was discussed for the Foreign Affairs or National Unity ministries.

However, before a vote could be taken, Willie and the opposition became embroiled in another shouting match where the opposition chanted “pengkhianat” (traitor) at the former PKR MP.

Willie responded by gesturing at opposition MPs, which they allege was him flashing his middle finger, prompting more shouts from the opposing bench.

Willie is among 10 MPs who defected from PKR to Bersatu, causing Pakatan Harapan to lose its majority in Parliament in February. – December 1, 2020.