Lawmakers from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) party walked out of the Dewan Rakyat today to show support for Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (Putrajaya-PN), who was expelled from the lower House for causing a disturbance. Radzi was ousted by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul after he took offense to a statement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH), resulting in a heated argument between MPs from both sides.
During the prime minister's speech on the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan, Anwar attempted to explain the issue of the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) that was granted to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
However, there were several interruptions from opposition MPs, including Radzi, who loudly demanded that the Speaker instruct Anwar to retract his statement. Chaos ensued in the parliament when Anwar tried to clarify that the government had not interfered in Zahid's DNAA regarding his corruption case related to Yayasan Akalbudi. Some members were dissatisfied with the explanation provided by the Law Minister, as they believed that the prime minister had intervened in the matter.
Anwar emphasized the importance of avoiding assumptions when imposing punishments and asserted that he only questioned the attorney-general's reasoning behind the decision, without discussing the actual decision. Radzi immediately stood up and invoked Standing Order 36(6) to protest against Anwar's statement, claiming that it imputed improper motives to a fellow member. Despite the Speaker's instructions to take his seat, Radzi insisted that Johari should demand a retraction from the prime minister to restore his "dignity." Radzi's continuous objections and comments even included bringing up Anwar's previous sodomy conviction.
When Johari ruled that Anwar did not need to retract his statement and advised Radzi to submit a written motion if he disagreed, Radzi still refused to remain silent and persisted in claiming that his dignity had been tarnished. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Larut-PN), defending Radzi, expressed disagreement with the idea that accusations against Radzi should go unchecked. He threatened that if Radzi was asked to leave the Dewan, all opposition MPs would also walk out to protect their dignity. As opposition MPs exited the Dewan, Mohammed Taufiq Johari (Sungai Petani-PH) sarcastically suggested they hold a press conference outside, mocking the dramatic nature of their actions.
Only two PN lawmakers, Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor (Ketereh-PN) and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Muda), remained briefly in the Dewan. Eventually, Khlir also left, leaving Anwar to explain the DNAA granted to Zahid, who is the deputy prime minister. The opposition, including Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN), had previously submitted multiple motions to discuss Zahid's DNAA in the Dewan Rakyat.
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