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A FIERY row erupted in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday after Pendang MP Datuk Awang Hashim accused Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming of misleading the House by claiming that 20 tonnes of waste had been collected following Saturday’s opposition rally in the capital.
“If the minister says 20,000 kilograms of rubbish were left behind, that would suggest a turnout of 400,000 people. The police said there were only 18,000. Which statement is official?” he asked. “A minister must speak with accuracy. Don’t lie. I know the minister is usually honest and does not slander, but in this case, the figure defies logic.”
In response, Nga clarified that the 20-tonne estimate was based not on his own statement, but on a report from the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), which had deployed crews to clean up following the rally.
“The 20-tonne figure came from SWCorp’s report on the ground. Hundreds of our personnel were mobilised to clean the rubbish left after the Black Shirt rally,” he said. “I never accused any opposition MPs of littering. But the fact remains: Sogo, Dataran Merdeka, and Jalan Petaling were all strewn with waste.”
He added, “What I criticised was the lack of hygiene. As the saying goes, if you eat chillies, you’ll feel the heat. I even thanked Unit Amal for helping with the clean-up, but the volume of waste cannot be denied.”
Unsatisfied, Awang dismissed Nga’s explanation, saying: “That’s simply not true. We inspected the area after the rally—it was clean.”
The exchange quickly escalated, with both MPs raising their voices until Deputy Speaker Alice Lau Kiong Yieng was forced to step in, instructing members to restore order.
“Honourable members, I believe that’s sufficient on this question. Thank you, Honourable Minister,” she said, as she muted the microphones amidst a chorus of interjections.
Despite her intervention, Awang could be heard shouting, “The minister lied about the 20 tonnes. DAP!”
Nga immediately demanded a retraction, but Awang refused to withdraw his remarks.
“If Pendang stands up one more time, please leave the hall,” Lau warned, bringing the row to a close. - July 28, 2025