KUALA LUMPUR: Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim was today told to retract a statement which Dewan Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin had ruled as “un-parliamentary.”
The statement “balik tong san” (go back to China) was uttered by Azeez when he was interrupted by Jimmy Wong (DAP-Kota Kinabalu) while Azeez was asking a question during the wrap up of the Budget 2016 debate today.
DAP chief whip Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) brought up the complaint.
"The word is very sensitive to any community especially the Chinese community in Malaysia," said Loke.
Azeez retracted his remark unconditionally after being asked by the Speaker.
Pandikar also ruled that the statement “worse than pondan”, which Abdul Azeez had uttered to Kasthuriraani Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan) during the Parliament session yesterday was un-parliamentary.
Azeez claimed that the sexist remark was not hurled directly at Kasthuriraani.
"Batu Kawan challenged us (in her debate). I stood up, I wanted to speak, but she said 'No'. Then I asked, 'Why are you afraid? You are worse than a ‘pondan'," he explained.
"Since she was the one who challenged (us), then (she should) allow us the opportunity to answer. But she just refused," he pleaded,” he said.
"I understand, I understand," said Pandikar, calming the MP.
"I have heard his explanation and since the incident happened yesterday, I rule that he does not need to retract the 'pondan' remark, but the word 'pondan' is un-parliamentary," he said.
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