KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul today warned both government and opposition lawmakers to follow the House rules and submit a motion if they are unsatisfied with answers provided by ministries during question time.
Johari said the answers provided by ministers were based on facts and members of parliament (MP) are advised to file a motion if they feel the answers were intended to confuse the house.
"You (MPs) might be unsatisfied with the answers given but that is the fact given by the minister. Hence, submit a motion if you feel that the answers are only confusing the house.
"(And) I do not care if you guys are former government ministers or officers, general managers.
"As long as you are in my House, this is the book (of standing orders) and file a motion if you are not happy with it," he said.
Johari's response came after chaos descended in the Lower House today following a war of words between government and opposition MPs during Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli's question time.
Earlier, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) had interjected Rafizi's session as he was left unsatisfied with the latter's answers on the role of economic development agencies in respective states.
Following this, Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) defended Rafizi and told Shahidan to welcome the answers with an open heart.
However, a war of words erupted between them, who were then joined by Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) and Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Puteh) who came to Shahidan's defence.
Shahidan: The answers given (by the minister) lack rational thinking.
Nik Muhammad Zawawi: I agree, this is not rational.
Bung: That is the fact and you need to welcome it with an open heart.
Shahidan: Are you (referring to Bung) the minister? Do not be nosy.
Bung: I am helping my minister. Why are you getting mad over facts? Just accept it (the answers).
Awang: I was also once a government officer and I know the role of economic development agencies.
Bung: This is not a debate, if you want to debate, let's go to a coffee shop and discuss among us.
The chaos, however, was stopped short after Johari warned the lawmakers to file a motion to allow Rafizi to continue his question time.