According to Malaysiakini, last December, while officiating the First Year of the 15th Perak state legislative assembly, Sultan Nazrin Shah had warned that: “Firm and immediate action must be taken to stop activities of any party, whether through speech or actions, that poison minds, and fan negative emotions of people, by exploiting differences in ethnicity and religion.”
But will some of our politicians ever listen? In fact, last Monday was a typically chaotic day in the Parliament as yet, another opposition Member of Parliament (MP) was ejected from the Lower House after repeatedly harping on the divisive topic of "religion"; this time linking a cabinet member to Islamophobia, leading to a war of words between the government and opposition MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.
This ensued after Ahmad Marzuk, the opposition MP from Pengkalan Chepa intervened Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar's debate session on the 2024 Supply Bill at the committee level; he had claimed that Islamophobia in the country increased due to the misunderstanding of Islam not only among members of the public but also among ministers.
He then cited a posting by Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming on the latter's X account, where the minister had allegedly posted a picture of two students wearing a mafla (scarf) while holding replicas of firearms with the caption saying that "schools are not the place for conflict, extremism and terrorism."
The PAS MP had questioned the religious affairs minister (Mohd Na'im) whether he had made any effort to make cabinet ministers understand why there is a prohibition on Qunut Nazilah?"
Apparently, Ahmad Marzuk was then interjected by DAP MP Howard Lee who raised Standing Order 36 which stipulates that there was an ill intention; he also requested the PN lawmaker to withdraw the claims.
Following this, a heated exchange of words had erupted between the government and opposition MPs for several minutes; Deputy Speaker Alice Lau then instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Ahmad Marzuk from the house as the latter had refused to comply with the order. (Read here)
As if that wasn't enough, in the afternoon session, Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul also ejected Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN-Parit Buntar) and Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) from the House; this was after the former had raised the issue of students reciting the takbir and the latter had interjected!
Actually, hardly two weeks ago the same House Speaker had reminded all Members of Parliament to refrain from using the words “kafir (infidel)”, “Zionist” and “Yahudi (Jew)” in the lower house; the warning was issued after those incendiary words were heard in the Dewan Rakyat during the debate on the 2024 Budget.
Calling on MPs to stop using the contentious words, the Speaker reminded them that they should exhibit commendable behaviour when addressing the issues concerning the people and the nation.
He further emphasised that he will no longer tolerate and will take action if the issue and the words referred to earlier were raised again; he then added by citing Standing Order 36(10)(C) which prevents lawmakers from using words that would cause feelings of hurt or enmity between one race and another in Malaysia.
In fact, last Oct 17, the Dewan Rakyat erupted into chaos following a “DAP kafir (infidel)” remark made by the same Pengkalan Chepa MP, Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary!
Meanwhile, another MP who is no stranger to controversy, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, had also called on MPs to stop using religious and racial sentiments in Parliament debates; he had advised that they are being watched and observed by Malaysians and the world.
The Kinabatangan MP also called on all the 222 MPs in Parliament to set a (good) example as they represent 36 million Malaysians; he further warned that MPs should not disrupt the harmony of the country's diverse communities.
Bung Moktar said that labelling others “kafir (infidel) should be avoided and that MPs should engage in debates without hurting the feelings of others; moreover, he added that as devout Muslims, they are encouraged to respect the beliefs of others and hence, should refrain from discussions that can divide the country's diverse communities.
Then, on a more solemn note, he touched on the May 13, 1969 racial riots, which according to him, should have taught everyone the meaning of unity and should serve as a lesson to prevent the nation from ever falling into chaos and destruction.
He added that it is why after the 15th General Election, the Unity Government was formed, as directed by the Agong, with the hope that the concept of unity in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation can be brought together to build a (prosperous) nation.
Indeed, lately, incidents of MPs trading barbs over religious and racial issues has become more frequent; and all that, despite regular reminders from the various state Rulers as well as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong himself.
Perhaps, some might argue that the "3R" ruling should be enforced by the Speaker during parliamentary sittings too; so that MPs don't cross the “red line” wantonly and make a mockery of the huge monthly salary and the lifelong pensions - all paid using the rakyat's money!
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