Gobala apologises for 'lunging' at Speaker
The Sun (27/5/08): N. Gobalakrisnan (PKR-Padang Serai) today apologised in Parliament for "lunging" at the Speaker to whisper the meaning of a Tamil word which he claimed a Barisan Nasional MP had used on him.
Earlier, newbie Gobalakrishnan asked Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to make a decision against Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Harun for uttering an unparliamentary word in Tamil.
"That's a vulgar word," he said after Idris muttered something in Tamil during question time while he was replying to a supplementary question from Mohd Nasir Zakaria (PAS-Padang Terap).
However, Pandikar Amin said he did not understand what was uttered and Gobalakrishnan also did not want to fill him in.
M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) interjected saying Idris should not say the word if he could not pronounce it properly, saying it was a very offensive language.
Idris then told Pandikar Amin the word he used was "sit down" or "wokarengeh" in Tamil but Kulasegaran insisted it was not that and Gobalakrishnan called for a point of order, saying rude words are unparliamentary.
(The word may have been pronounced differently to sound like "wokurengeh" or "F***ing")
Gobalakrishnan wanted Idris to apologise and retract his word but Pandikar Amin said he cannot make a ruling only based on the former’s argument as he himself does not understand the meaning of the word.
"I also cannot fully depend on you (Gobalakrishnan) so I will ask people outside the house," he said. At this point, Gobalakrishnan approached his chair and whispered something to his ears.
This was when BN MPs like Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu), Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan), Salleh Kalbi (Silam,) Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Batu Pahat) and Ismail Mohd Said (Kuala Krai) shouted to protest his action which they said was rude and unacceptable.
Pandikar Amin reminded them to behave as a Commonwealth Speaker was present in the House.
"When I reminded you not to use unparliamentary words, YB Padang Serai had to leave his seat and explain to me what the word is. Sooner or later we will become like other parliaments where the opposition and government reps were throwing shoes, books and chairs and Speakers were attacked.
"Thank God YB Padang Serai did not attack me. He just whispered to me. But next time, please don’t do that," he said.
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin then stood up, raising a point of order on Gobalakrishnan’s behaviour as he could have misled the House and called for him to be referred to the Committee of Privileges.
"I have been in the House for three terms but this is the first time that an MP does not know how to use House. He thinks this is a gangster House but no, this House has to be respected, this is a serious matter," he said.
This was followed by all BN MPs including the ministers standing up to show their support.
However this was not for long as Mohd Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) suddenly stood up and Pandikar Amin said he wanted to listen to him as he is the PKR chief whip.
Mohd Azmin said he has consulted party president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) and they have agreed that Gobalakrishnan should apologise and hoped it would not happen again in due respect of the House.
Gobalakrishnan then stood up and said: "Because of the weaknesses, I tender my apology as I did it unconsciously."
Earlier, newbie Gobalakrishnan asked Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to make a decision against Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Harun for uttering an unparliamentary word in Tamil.
"That's a vulgar word," he said after Idris muttered something in Tamil during question time while he was replying to a supplementary question from Mohd Nasir Zakaria (PAS-Padang Terap).
However, Pandikar Amin said he did not understand what was uttered and Gobalakrishnan also did not want to fill him in.
M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) interjected saying Idris should not say the word if he could not pronounce it properly, saying it was a very offensive language.
Idris then told Pandikar Amin the word he used was "sit down" or "wokarengeh" in Tamil but Kulasegaran insisted it was not that and Gobalakrishnan called for a point of order, saying rude words are unparliamentary.
(The word may have been pronounced differently to sound like "wokurengeh" or "F***ing")
Gobalakrishnan wanted Idris to apologise and retract his word but Pandikar Amin said he cannot make a ruling only based on the former’s argument as he himself does not understand the meaning of the word.
"I also cannot fully depend on you (Gobalakrishnan) so I will ask people outside the house," he said. At this point, Gobalakrishnan approached his chair and whispered something to his ears.
This was when BN MPs like Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu), Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan), Salleh Kalbi (Silam,) Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Batu Pahat) and Ismail Mohd Said (Kuala Krai) shouted to protest his action which they said was rude and unacceptable.
Pandikar Amin reminded them to behave as a Commonwealth Speaker was present in the House.
"When I reminded you not to use unparliamentary words, YB Padang Serai had to leave his seat and explain to me what the word is. Sooner or later we will become like other parliaments where the opposition and government reps were throwing shoes, books and chairs and Speakers were attacked.
"Thank God YB Padang Serai did not attack me. He just whispered to me. But next time, please don’t do that," he said.
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin then stood up, raising a point of order on Gobalakrishnan’s behaviour as he could have misled the House and called for him to be referred to the Committee of Privileges.
"I have been in the House for three terms but this is the first time that an MP does not know how to use House. He thinks this is a gangster House but no, this House has to be respected, this is a serious matter," he said.
This was followed by all BN MPs including the ministers standing up to show their support.
However this was not for long as Mohd Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) suddenly stood up and Pandikar Amin said he wanted to listen to him as he is the PKR chief whip.
Mohd Azmin said he has consulted party president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh) and they have agreed that Gobalakrishnan should apologise and hoped it would not happen again in due respect of the House.
Gobalakrishnan then stood up and said: "Because of the weaknesses, I tender my apology as I did it unconsciously."
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