KUALA LUMPUR: Kapar Member of Parliament Dr Halimah Ali has apologised over her statement which associated Menu Rahmah with health risks such as cancer and autism.
Dr Halimah read out her gurindam at the August House today, to offer an apology on the statement she made during her debate on the motion of thanks on the royal address on Feb 14.
"If my statement was misunderstood then I would like to humbly apologise.
"My intention was to bring the people's voices as their MP and to check and balance the government," she said in Parliament here, today.
Earlier, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul ruled on Dr Kelvin Yii's (Pakatan Harapan-Bandar Kuching) motion to request Dr Halimah for an explanation on her statement.
"I have summoned the Kapar MP to my chambers and requested for her to explain about the statement she made.
"We have agreed for her to read out her statement today," he said.
Johari said with Halimah's explanation and apology, he considered the issue resolved.
On Feb 21, Dr Yii urged the Dewan Rakyat to refer Dr Halimah Ali to the Parliament's Rights and Privileges Committee for allegedly misleading the house.
Dr Halimah also mentioned her intention was to bring the people's voices in Parliament on the government's affordable Menu Rahmah for the B40 group.
In reading out her apology, Dr Halimah justified her words by asking the people to refer to the Parliament's Hansard dated on Feb 14.
"I have no problem with the term 'rahmah' or whatever, but do not offer low quality food to the B40 group and maybe also cause them to be vulnerable to cancer, autoimmune disease, to autism and so on," she said.
Dr Halimah's statement on Feb 14, had caused an uproar among the public including Dewan Negara member, Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi, who expressed disappointment over the statement and hoped that the Perikatan Nasional lawmaker would be brought to the Committee of Privileges for further action.