Article by Wong Choon Mei
An ugly fight broke out this afternoon just outside the Parliament building when a group of Umno Youth leaders tried to demand an apology from wheelchair-bound veteran politician Karpal Singh, who had denounced their movement as celaka (damned or inauspicious) a day ago.
Led by Serdang Umno Youth chief Ungku Mat Salleh, the group pushed and shoved at Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers who rushed to help the much-respected 68-year old Bukit Gelugor MP.
Among them were DAP’s Fong Po Kuan, Lim Lip Eng and KeADILan’s N Gobalakrishnan - who tried to steer Karpal to safety. Guards stationed nearby initially did nothing to stop the unruly Umno mob.
The group, which kept warning that their patience was nearing an end, also attempted to stop Pakatan lawmakers from speaking to the press, challenging them to refer directly to their leaders present at the scene.
Said Gombak Umno Youth chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin: “They must stop insulting the Rulers and the Malays.”
Said KeADILan information chief Tian Chua: “It is typical Umno Youth wanting to act like a hero all the time. We have condemned their behaviour so many times, but they only keep getting bolder. The going is really getting tougher by the day.”
Said Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim: “This is the pinnacle of insolence. We are fed-up with promises that action will be taken and we don’t just want any investigation, we want an assurance from the Speaker that the sanctity of this Parliament will not be destroyed.”
Parliament the highest court of law
Shaken but feisty as ever, Karpal has demanded that the Speaker issue an arrest warrant for the leader of the mob to be brought to Parliament and be tried in the august House functioning as a court of law under the House of Parliament, Privileges and Powers Act 1952 section 9e.
Said Karpal himself: “I might be disabled but I will not take any intimidation from any quarters.
“We are now more interested in having the resolution passed today. This is a resolution that there was contempt in the House in relation to what has happened just now, for those individuals to be produced in this House for punishment.”
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang was also up in arms over the episode, adding that it was a clear violation of House rules made specifically to protect the sanctity and dignity of Parliament.
“This has never happened before. It is the most outrageous and shameful episode in the history of Parliament,” he said. “They should have been arrested on the spot. Something has become very ugly in Malaysian politics.”
The mob dispersed only after Backbenchers Club president Tiong King Sing appealed to them.
“I heard there was a fight so I came down, but this is still within the Parliament compound so they must respect Parliament,” said Tiong.
“They were provoked, but they should know how to handle it and not get emotional,” said Tiong, whose attempts to make excuses for the Umno Youth mob were sharply rejected by DAP and Pakatan lawmakers.
Article from here.
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