THE tension between the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat over the behaviour of a PKR member of parliament at the recent Bar Council forum on conversion to Islam boiled over in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam), the party's women chief, took a dig at the MP, Zulkifli Nordin (PKR-Kulim Bandar Baru), during the debate on the Education (amendment) Bill 2008.

Chong Eng said Islam sought equality.

"Based on this principle, I believe the same should apply to national-type schools, which should be accorded the same treatment as national schools."

Zulkifli quickly sought to correct Chong Eng, saying that Islam respected all religions but on the question of equality, it had a different view especially in the matter of faith.
Zulkifli, looking rather angry, said Chong Eng, by drawing on Islam to illustrate the case for Chinese education, had implied that the Chinese were being discriminated against.

"But that is also the case with religious schools," he said.

However, Chong Eng took a swipe at him.

"I agree. This point can be debated peacefully in Parliament and not be done with force, like the way it was done at the Bar Council forum."

By now, Zulkifli, who was among a group of protesters who had reportedly disrupted the forum, demanded to know what was Chong Eng's stand on the forum.

"We cannot use violence even if we disagree with another's view, even if it is a minority view," she said while making it clear it was within the Bar Council's right to hold the forum.

Zulkifli said he regretted the way the peaceful gathering was being portrayed as violent simply because it involved Muslims. He also accused Chong Eng of being a racist and anti-religion.

Zulkifli launched a tirade against the Bar Council, saying it had been objecting to all things Islam and cited the inter-faith council and Lina Joy case as examples.

"They have been invoking Article 18 on universal human rights which allows for anyone to leave his or her faith. This is against Islam."

He said the Bar ignored 40 per cent of its Muslim members when it called for Lina Joy to be allowed to leave Islam.

"This kind of stand is obviously going to hurt Muslim lawyers."

Some visibly angry DAP members called on the chair to rein in Zulkifli.

Charles Anthony Santiago (DAP-Klang) and John Fernandez (DAP-Seremban) said Zulkifli had gone off the topic.

The exchange ended when Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee told Chong Eng to focus on the bill and not engage Zulkifli in further debate.