Kasthuri Patto wants to refer Azeez to Parliamentary committee for racist remark

Batu Kawan Member of Parliament Kasthuriraani Patto is considering referring Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee following his 'dark' and 'powder' remarks which she described as racist.

She said the action to drag Abdul Azeez to the committee may be the best for now.

"Many MPs have suggested (the matter), we are holding discussions including gathering evidence," she said at a press conference at the media centre in Parliament here on Tuesday.

Kasthuriraani added she received many messages on her social media page regarding Abdul Azeez's remarks.

"They stated that his (Abdul Azeez) statement did not represent the people of the Baling Parliamentary constituency but instead stated that they reject racist politics and any (racist) leader," she said.

Commenting further, Kasthuriraani said although the Dewan Rakyat gives immunity to its members, it cannot be taken for granted or abused.

“Does it mean that any MP can make derogatory remarks only to apologise and retract it later?” she asked.

She also claimed that this was not the first time Abdul Azeez had uttered such derogatory remarks.

Earlier, in today's sitting, newly-minted Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun instructed the Baling MP to apologize for his statement.

The decision, he said, was taken after examining Abdul Azeez's insulting statement and as a result he was asked to retract the statement.