KUALA LUMPUR: Tempers flared in the Dewan Rakyat today after an opposition member of parliament (MP) accused a government backbencher of being pro-Israel, leading MPs from both blocs to point fingers towards each other.
The uproar erupted after Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) earlier raised a Standing Order and asked the government to state its stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Shahidan, in his enquiries, had also said immediate issuance of the stance must be carried out by the government.
He also alleged that Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) had publicly shown his support for Israel following the ongoing conflict.
"I would like to ask the government to make a firm stance on the ongoing conflict, do we support the mass killings where an individual is killed every 10 minutes?
"The government needs to give its and not let an individual, such as Tebrau who supports Israel to make a statement.
"Even if we cannot do anything (about the conflict), we should give a firm stance as more than 8,000 people are killed and we only hear Tebrau's stance on it.
"Buildings are destroyed and the MPs are also affected by this (the conflict)… so shut up (to government backbenchers)," said Shahidan.
Following this, chaos erupted and chants of 'withdraw' can be heard from the government backbenchers.
Puah then asked Shahidan to withdraw the statement and cited Standing Order 36 (6) for the latter's ill intention.
"This is ill intention, firstly when Arau told (government backbenchers ) to shut up, that was not a parliamentary term used by a senior MP.
"(And) he also said that I supported Israel. This is pure slander and I hope that you withdraw (the statement).
"I had also expressed my solidarity with Palestine and raised several questions in the Dewan Rakyat towards the Home Ministry in hopes that more leeway is given for solidarity events," he said.
Deputy Speaker Alice Lau, at the same time, requested Shahidan to withdraw his statement following no evidence on the allegations.
Shahidan, however, refused to do so despite being bombarded with calls to withdraw his statement.
Lau: Arau do you have any evidence that Tebrau supports Israel?
Shahidan: If he said he does not support (Israel), then he can deny it outside the parliament and as MPs, we are very much affected by what went viralled. There was not enough stance issued by the ministries.
Lau: You are the one who accused Tebrau in the house so you should withdraw your statement.
Puah: Yes, I don't admit (on supporting Israel).
Lau: Hence, (Arau) must withdraw (the statement).
Shahidan then withdrew his earlier statement, adding that other MPs should mind their own business.
"If he (Puah) said he does not support Israel then I withdraw my statement. What's the fuss about? Others do not have to show their fangs or be so fierce, why are you so nosy?"
Lau, meanwhile, had to raise her voice in order to get the house session to resume: "Enough is enough."