Dewan Rakyat turns chaotic after Bintulu MP's "DG afraid to die" remark

KUALA LUMPUR:The debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2021 was chaotic today as it turned into a shouting ground when Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (GPS-Bintulu) claimed that Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was scared of death.

While debating the 2021 Budget, Tiong claimed that Dr Noor Hisham did not dare to go to Sabah when the state suffered the worst effects due to the third wave of COVID-19.

The allegation saw RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) stood up to object to the statement, which he described as an insult to Dr Noor Hisham and the front line.

"DG only made news every day, what did he do? If it's news, that morning his office boy can also read. Why didn't he go down to the ground? Like KK (Kota Kinabalu) now, Sabah has gotten worse, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Why did he not visit every hospital? Temporary hospital? We should go down and see, discuss and give support to the frontliners. Doctors, nurses working there. Don't just send the doctors and nurses. Oh... those people are not afraid to die, but DG is afraid to die," he said.

Tiong said the Director General of Health should not just make publicity every day, and he further claimed that Dr Noor Hisham was trying to position himself as the Secretary General of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Rayer then rose to say Tiong should not have insulted Dr Noor Hisham, instead should have given due respect.

"Speaker, do not allow him to insult DG. DG is the frontliner,” he added.

Tiong then resumed his debate, asking why the lockdown was not implemented on the Prison Complex in Lahad Datu, or should have tightened the Movement Control Order earlier.

Rayer once again insisted, urging the Speaker to order Tiong to retract his words about the DG being fearful of death, and following that, a commotion erupted.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said asked the Jelutong MP several times to sit down, in order to decide on Tiong's statement.

Rayer's refusal caused Azalina to order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove him from the Dewan Rakyat.

The Bintulu MP was adamant that he would not retract the statement, saying it was actually a grievance from the front line and the people.

Although some Opposition MPs objected, Azalina said she had heard and accepted Tiong's explanation, and asked the opposition to refer to the Hansard to review the Bintulu Member of Parliament's explanation.