Chaos in Parliament as Chinese New Villages linked to Communism
“In the past, the plans of the British relocated the Chinese to the Chinese new villages because they were influenced by communists. I am not saying that the Chinese people are communists,” said Ismail.
(NST) The Dewan Rakyat erupted in chaos for a second day in a row after Maran member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib linked Chinese new villages to communists.
The drama first started when Ismail, during a motion of thanks on the royal address, questioned the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s proposal to designate such villages as heritage sites.
“What is the rationale behind it? The history of Chinese new villages stems from the struggle against communist activities that disrupted our country.
“If we make the new villages heritage sites, it means the government confirms that the communist past, which was a dark part of the history of the country, is elevated as the struggle of the Chinese people,” he said.
Ismail’s statement was met with outrage from RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong), who accused him of insulting the Chinese people and the new villages and demanded that the statement be retracted.
“I ask Maran to retract and apologise for insulting the Chinese people and their villages,” he said.
In response, Ismail defended his stance and said: “I want to explain the history of the establishment of the Chinese new village, and I was involved at that time. How do we neutralise the influence of communists…”
At this point, Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas) interrupted and questioned Ismail’s understanding of history.
“Do not distort history. People were afraid, the Chinese were forcibly relocated to British ‘detention camps’. That is the historical fact; houses were demolished forcibly,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Alice Lau later intervened, requesting that Ngeh and Rayer calm down, before asking Ismail to clarify his statement.
She also had to turn off the microphones of all MPs several times during the chaos.
“In the past, the plans of the British relocated the Chinese to the Chinese new villages because they were influenced by communists. I am not saying that the Chinese people are communists,” said Ismail.
He said that he did not want new villages to be recognised as heritage sites, fearing that this might be interpreted as endorsing communism in the country.
Lau then lightly admonished Ismail.
“Maran, I think you do not have to mention any ethnic group that was influenced by communists… if possible, withdraw (your statement).
Ismail, however, refused to retract his statement, though he conceded to a review of the Hansard for offensive remarks.
The argument was eventually diffused as Ismail urged the MPs to move past the historical controversy and return to addressing the motion of thanks.
