KUALA LUMPUR: Chaos erupted in the Dewan Rakyat today after a government backbencher likened an opposition member of Parliament to an "Orang Hulu".
The incident happened when Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) sought clarification from Roslan Hashim (PN - Kulim-Bandar Baharu) during a debate, only to be interrupted by Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut).
"What is wrong with you, Besut? What is the issue with Besut? Just sit down, I am asking Kulim.
"Besut is a (former) magistrate but misbehaves... like an Orang Hulu," he added.
This led to a reaction from Datuk Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo) who demanded Mohd Sany retract his statement.
"Hulu Langat said 'behaving like Orang Ulu,' and I am asking him (Hulu Langat) to retract what he said because an Orang Ulu has become the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor)," Willie said.
Mohd Sany refused to do so, saying he used "Hulu" and not "Ulu" because of the "Hulu" in his constituency's name.
However, he expressed readiness to retract his statement if he was misunderstood and accused the opposition of trying to deceive others.
Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau instructed Mohd Sany to retract his statement.
"Which one should I retract?" Mohd Sany asked Lau.
"The one about Orang Hulu," Lau said.
Mohd Sany then retracted his remarks.
"I retract my statement, I apologise, I retract, I am from Hulu Langat, what I mentioned earlier was a misinterpretation."
Lau then instructed both the Besut and Hulu Langat MPs to sit down.