KUALA LUMPUR: Tempers flared in the Dewan Rakyat today after an opposition member of parliament (MP) Siti Mastura Mohamad refused to give government backbenchers the opportunity to interfere with her debate session following claims made against DAP members.
During her debate speech on the 2024 Supply Bill at the committee level, Siti Mastura, who is the Kepala Batas MP, was cornered to prove claims made against DAP members on the alleged familial relations with Chin Peng and Lee Kuan Yew.
Despite being cornered by four DAP members – Teresa Kok, Wong Shu Qi, Syerleena Abdul Rashid and Shahredzan Johan – who questioned the Pas MP on the claims made, Siti Mastura refused to give them the leeway and continued her speech.
Her refusal then led to words of war to occur in the Lower House, which saw government MPs demanding the Pas MP to take accountability for the allegations made.
"This is slander, are you not bold enough to answer (the allegations) in the house? Bold enough to make a slander outside (of the house) but do not want to answer here," can be heard from Wong, who is also the Kluang MP.
Meanwhile, Kok, who is the Seputeh MP said: "I would like to enquire about the slander made against DAP, including me."
The chaos continued for another five minutes between the government and opposition MPs, while Siti Mastura continued to finish her debate speech.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul then gave a warning to all MPs, stating that the people were watching the session which was being broadcast live.
"Please sit, Kepala Batas is not allowing any of you (to interfere) or you can continue fighting. Go on, the public is watching so I am allowing you to speak," said Johari.
Earlier, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng demanded Siti Mastura to prove the alleged familial relations between him, Chin and Lee, stating that the Pas MP would have until Thursday to prove her claims.
This comes after Siti Mastura during one of the programmes in Kemaman, Terengganu reportedly said that the former finance minister has family connections with Chin Peng and Lee.
Through a video speech shared on social media, the deputy head of Penang Pas Muslimat Council also linked Lim and his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng to other DAP leaders, namely Anthony Loke, Teresa Kok, Nga Kor Ming, and Ngeh Koo Ham.
Meanwhile, Siti Mastura refused to comment and requested time to review the video while approached by the reporters at parliament.
"I will watch (my) full video (again). I do not want to answer questions that I do not know the context of," she said.