KUALA LUMPUR: A Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) member of parliament’s rhetorical use of the phrase, “If I was God”, triggered a war of words between him and a former Pas comrade during the Dewan Rakyat sitting this afternoon.
Hanipa Maidin (PAN-Sepang) was debating the motion for fake news bill and had used the phrase, “If I was God”, when answering an interjection from Datuk Seri Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling).
Hanipa had rhetorically said that if he was god, he would have made sure Azeez was never created in the first place.
This made Azeez said “(Allah,) Please forgive the sin of Sepang. Please have mercy on him, Allah.”
Then, Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali (Pas-Kuala Nerus) stood up and reminded Hanipa that one should not use the rhetorical situation of what one would do if he was God lightly, and asked him to retract the statement.
“Seek forgiveness (taubat). Withdraw that statement. This involves Aqidah Islam (Islamic faith). This goes against Islam. I am asking this in a nice way,” said Khairuddin.
However, Hanipa refused to do so, adding that: “This is a person (Khairuddin) who peddles religion.
“Do not advise me. Who are you? Do not talk to me about religion,” Hanipa shot back at Khairuddin.
Khairuddin then asked Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee to order Hanipa to withdraw the statement.
“(Deputy) Speaker, I demand that Sepang retract the statement,” said Khairuddin.
Ronald said it was his duty to ensure that Dewan Rakyat proceedings were orderly and that rules and regulations followed by all MPs.
“My duty is to ensure proceedings go smoothly and that statements (by MPs) are in line with rules.
“What was said by Sepang was merely his personal view,” said Ronald. Hanipa thanked Ronald.
However, Ronald sternly reminded Hanipa and other MPs that they must not resort to unparliamentary language. — Reports by Mohd Anwar Patho Rohman, Meor Riduwan Meor Ahmad, Hidir Reduan, Luqman Arif Abdul Karim and Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi