KUALA LUMPUR: There was chaos in the Dewan Rakyat today when Opposition MPs took to labelling Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waytha Moorthy as a racist minister.
The chaos started when Waytha Moorthy who was wrapping up the 2019 Budget debate touched on the issue surrounding the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
He was then interrupted by former deputy foreign minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (BN-Umno-Kepala Batas).
Reezal Merican asked Waytha Moorthy to explain if the government will feel pressured by the United Nation (UN) on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution should Malaysia accede to ICERD.
Waytha Moorthy assured that acceding to ICERD will not result in amendments to the article.
"No. It will not amend Article 153," he said, briefly.
Tan Sri Noh Omar (BN-Umno-Tanjung Karang) then stood up and asked the minister to explain an old video clip that had gone viral recently in which Waytha Moorthy had slammed the government for discriminating against the Indian community.
"The Barisan Nasional (BN) government then practised discrimination and I have proof," Waytha Moorthy said.
This led to anger amongst the Opposition MPs, including those from PAS. Shouts were heard calling Waytha Moorthy 'racist minister'.
Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Umno-Lenggong) claimed Waytha Moorthy as a person who is not qualified as a minister holding the portfolio of unity.
Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS-Kubang Kerian) then stood up and motioned for Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (PH-Bersatu-Langkawi) to answer the question on ICERD, claiming Waytha Moorthy was not qualified to address the matter.