KUALA LUMPUR: Members of parliament have been told to refrain from using "sensitive" words such as "kafir" (infidel), "zionist", and "Yahudi" (Jews) in the august house.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said during the four-day debate on the 2024 Budget last week, there were MPs who had expressed arguments and positions leading to sensitive issues.
"These statements could make things worse and touch on sensitivities and harm our harmony.
"This includes the usage of the words 'kafir', zionists, and 'yahudi' among MPs," he said in parliament this morning.
Johari added that according to Standing Order 36(10)(C), it was wrong to use words that would cause feelings of hurt or enmity between one race and another in Malaysia.
He reminded parliamentarians to show commendable behaviour and prioritise national issues instead of using the Dewan Rakyat as a platform for politicking among groups or individuals.
"Today, I implore all of you to turn over a new page. Please make your arguments based on issues to help the rakyat out there.
"I stress that I will not tolerate and will take action if such things arise once more," added Johari.
Last week, the Dewan Rakyat erupted into chaos after Pengkalan Chepa MP Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary made a "DAP kafir" remark.
Marzuk had, while taking part in the 2024 Budget debate, mentioned that Howard Lee (Pakatan Harapan-Ipoh Timur) had misinterpreted a Quranic verse in a viral video recently.
Marzuk had said: "He (Lee) must learn from Ayer Hitam (Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong) who said that he is kafir zimmi.
"We do not agree if anyone says that DAP is kafir harbi, although they are kafir."