Issue of Malay rights, privileges hot topic in Dewan Rakyat
Bernama (16/5/08): The issue of Malay rights and privileges turned into a hot topic in the Dewan Rakyat Thursday, with backbenchers and Opposition MPs engaging in some intense argument.
It happened when Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal was winding up debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address, and touched on the need to maintain unity in the interest of the nation's future.
Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak), who had sought permission, said non-Malays should not regard Malays as racist when they defended their rights.
"As Malays, surely we will defend our rights and we have never questioned the rights of others. Why the misunderstanding?
"I do not want any non-Malay to manipulate this matter. Malays have never questioned the rights of others," he said.
N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) stood up but Shafie insisted on continuing with his speech and he was ordered to sit by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee.
Gobalakrishnan refused to sit and insisted on being given the chance to speak, which resulted in an uproar when backbenchers and Opposition MPs started shouting at one another.
Following repeated warnings and after calm was restored, Shafie continued with his speech, saying the issue of uniting the Malays themselves was not easy as it did not involve Umno alone but all quarters.
Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN-Patu Pahat) stood up and expressed agreement with Shafie's opinion, saying the question of unity had become all the more difficult with the Opposition acting irrationally in the matter of the Malay Rulers recently.
Khalid Abd Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) took exception to Dr Mohd Puad's statement and said no one wanted to join Umno which he described as "a sinking ship".
This caused another uproar in the House, and Deputy Speaker Ronald quickly adjourned the sitting to Tuesday.
It happened when Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal was winding up debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address, and touched on the need to maintain unity in the interest of the nation's future.
Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak), who had sought permission, said non-Malays should not regard Malays as racist when they defended their rights.
"As Malays, surely we will defend our rights and we have never questioned the rights of others. Why the misunderstanding?
"I do not want any non-Malay to manipulate this matter. Malays have never questioned the rights of others," he said.
N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) stood up but Shafie insisted on continuing with his speech and he was ordered to sit by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee.
Gobalakrishnan refused to sit and insisted on being given the chance to speak, which resulted in an uproar when backbenchers and Opposition MPs started shouting at one another.
Following repeated warnings and after calm was restored, Shafie continued with his speech, saying the issue of uniting the Malays themselves was not easy as it did not involve Umno alone but all quarters.
Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN-Patu Pahat) stood up and expressed agreement with Shafie's opinion, saying the question of unity had become all the more difficult with the Opposition acting irrationally in the matter of the Malay Rulers recently.
Khalid Abd Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) took exception to Dr Mohd Puad's statement and said no one wanted to join Umno which he described as "a sinking ship".
This caused another uproar in the House, and Deputy Speaker Ronald quickly adjourned the sitting to Tuesday.
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