PAS MP ejected for uttering 'pondan', opposition MPs stage walkout

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- PAS Member of Parliament for Pengkalan Chepa, Ahmad Marzuk Shaary was suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for two days after using the word “pondan (transvestite or sissy)” on Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Deputy Speaker  Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon ejected him in accordance with Article 44 (2) of the Standing Orders after Ahmad Marzuk refused to retract the word despite being ordered to do so.

Earlier, during debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill (2018) 2019,  Ahmad Marzuk had raised the issue of open tenders,  which he claimed was an agenda to destroy the future of bumiputera contractors.

However, Lim denied this explaining that the open tender system was to allow only the best among the bumiputera contractors to be selected.

"That's what I am upset about, (the) Pengkalan Chepa (MP) is playing on sentiments, this is not true," he said.

However, when Lim wanted to continue with his winding up  he was interrupted by Ahmad Marzuk who insisted on Lim providing the evidence on the matter.

Ahmad Marzuk was unhappy that Lim did not give him the space and chance to  speak further and  then declared "I'm a man not a pondan like (the) Bagan (MP)" which was when Lim demanded that he retract the word.

Ahmad Marzuk, was then sent out of the hall and was accompanied by members of the opposition bloc as a sign of protest

The policy stage of the Bill was passed today and will be debated at the committee stage tomorrow.

Lim when tabling the bill and the motion for the second reading, said the additional expenditure involved RM15.5 billion for development and RM4.1 billion as operating expenditure.

-- BERNAMA