Speaker expresses sadness over MPs' disrespectful attitude towards Bentara on duty

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun today expressed sadness over the attitude of some Members of Parliament (MPs) who acted disrespectfully towards the Bentara or the sergeants-at-arms during the ruckus in the august hall yesterday.

The commotion which involved several opposition lawmakers, mostly from Sabah, broke out after Azhar rejected the motion by Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) to have the issues on the Sulu Group's claims on Sabah be debated, which ended with her being ordered out and suspended from attending the Dewan Rakyat sitting for two days.

Earlier, Datuk Rozman Isli (Warisan-Labuan) asked the Speaker about the suspension status of Isnaraissah, to which the Speaker said it was still in effect as she had clearly ignored Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon's instruction to sit down and accept the decision made on the motion.

(Isnaraissah, however, refused to adhere to the instruction which prompted Mohd Rashid to order the Bentara to escort her out.)

"I was really saddened by the incident yesterday. I saw the two young Bentara, who work in Parliament, standing there for 40 minutes, with no one showing respect to them.

"If you don't respect me, it's okay. I'm the Speaker, I can take it. That's my life and my duties, but please show some respect to these young Bentara. They are just doing their job.

"What signal are we giving the people? I'm so sad...the people are not just watching me, they are watching all of us here...I always give ways, I have been accommodating, you want to talk I allow you to talk, but we shouldn't leave our manners (outside the august house), it's not good," he said.

At this point, several MPs from the opposition bloc stood up to interject Azhar's speech but were told to sit down.

The Speaker went on to take the lawmakers' attention to the Cokmar Diraja placed on the table of the house.

"The Cokmar Diraja is there in front of us. When we acted disrespectfully yesterday, to whom did we actually show that disrespect? What is the significance of the Cokmar Diraja here?" he said.

Cokmar Diraja is regalia that has been presented by the Malay Rulers which symbolises the power of the Monarch and the authority of Parliament. Its absence will affect the legitimacy of both Houses to convene for sitting.

Azhar also rapped the MPs who frequently referred to the Parliamentary Practice book by Erskine May to allow actions that suit their interests, but when he made a ruling based on the book, it was deemed unacceptable by the MPs.

"Erskine May said that when a ruling was made on Standing Order 18 (2) or similar standing order in the House of Common, the Point of Order is not allowed. Even the Speaker's decision on the emergency motion was discussed in private, not in the house.

"If we want to talk about Erskine May ('s book), we talk about it as a whole. Let's not just pick a paragraph that supports us.

"When I make a ruling, follow the ruling. For an alternative, there's a procedure. If it should be reviewed, I will bring forth a motion for a review. Let's not cause such a commotion," he said.

-- BERNAMA