A SUPPLEMENTARY question on the New Economic Policy triggered complaints from Pakatan Rakyat MPs that it was "planted".

It didn't help that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Amirsham A. Aziz seemed to be reading from a prepared text.

The question was posed by Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau).

Usually, answers to supplementary questions require ministers and their deputies to answer on the spot.

The minister had earlier answered a question on the NEP, also posed by Khairy.
In his supplementary question, Khairy said Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng had said that the NEP bred corruption, cronyism and systematic inefficiency.

"Is this a fair statement or just a general conclusion?

"Doesn't that statement imply that all of us are cronies and 'kaki rasuah' (corrupt)? Is this fair?" the Rembau MP asked.

He pointed out that the system had produced millions of successful students and Bumiputera professionals.

"You are among those," he noted.

By all accounts, it was a good point to counter what Lim had said.

But, when Amirsham started speaking, the opposition bench cried foul.

Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) protested that the answer was prepared, while Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) shouted that it was a "planted question" as the House erupted with laughter and catcalls as Amirsham continued.

Other MPs who joined in the fray included Khalid Abdul Samad (Pas-Shah Alam), who said "soalan bocor!" (leaked question) and Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) who noted "mana boleh ini macam" (how can this be).

Mahfuz Omar (Pas-Pokok Sena) added by saying "siap jawapan sampai dua muka!" (the answer was so prepared, it ran into two pages).

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee tried to control the situation with little success, while an oblivious Amirsham continued reading from his prepared text.

Dr P. Ramasamy (DAP-Batu Kawan) then asked another supplementary question on whether Amirsham understood the true spirit of affirmative action policy.

"In other countries, affirmative action is enjoyed by the minority, but here in Malaysia, it is enjoyed by the majority," he said to claps from opposition colleagues, prompting Ronald to rebuke them for their antics.

"Please don't clap in the House," he chided.

"The affirmative action is to help the poor and lower-income group. It eliminated poverty and gave equal opportunities to all," Amirsham said tersely.

His answer did not please the opposition, who reacted with jeers, prompting Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) to remark that the House had turned into a market.

The excitement would have died if not for Azmin Ali's (PKR-Gombak) dig at Khairy.

He quipped that the House had turned into a market because the "pengerusi pasar" (market chairman) is from Rembau.

This caused the backbenchers to kick up a storm with Khairy demanding that Azmin retract his word.

Later at the lobby, Khairy denied his supplementary question was planted.

"The minister is an intelligent man. He was the former CEO of Maybank and I'm sure he anticipated my question."

Khairy said the minister was looking at his facts to answer the question.

"It's not important whether (it's planted), but what's important is the substance.

"It's clear the opposition is trying to create trouble again because they are afraid of the answers."