Public fed up with Opposition MP’s antics, says Hisham

(The Star) KUALA LUMPUR: The rakyat is tired of seeing antics such as Monday’s fracas in Parliament, in which several Opposition MPs were ejected.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the public did not want to see such antics from their elected representatives.

“They want to see us move forward and debate issues in a mature way. They don’t want to see antics that tarnish the image of this House.

“I hope contributions by the Opposition would be more meaningful and helpful to bring about changes and strengthen what needs to be done under the Prime Minister’s vision,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

Hishammuddin said if Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia had not been strict in ordering the MPs out, the whole incident would have dragged on.

He said although he had instructed police to maintain security outside the Parliament building, they could not stop Pakatan Rakyat supporters from wearing the headbands.

“Otherwise, we would be accused of abuse of power,” he said, adding that the police were ready to help with Parliament security upon request from the Speaker.

Several backbenchers took the opportunity to raise the matter in the House with both Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz accusing the Opposition of having “tarnished the image of the country” in their supplementary questions to Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay.

In his reply, Kohilan said he agreed and was saddened by the fracas.