Kepong MP kicked out of Dewan after accusing Azalina of ‘stupid’ decision

(FMT) – Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) has been kicked out of the Dewan Rakyat and suspended for five days by speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

This comes after Lim said it was “stupid” of deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said not to  ask Tiong King Sing (GPS-Bintulu) to retract his remark about health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah being “afraid to die”.

Lim’s remark this morning sparked another uproar in the house, with backbenchers telling him to retract it and to apologise, and Azhar asking: “How can you say it’s stupid?”

Lim also accused Azhar of “conspiring with Bintulu” (Tiong) in insulting frontliners, prompting Azhar to kick him out and suspend him for five days.

Azhar also threatened to call police to escort the Kepong MP out after Lim refused to leave the hall.

“You’re too much, you know. Keep quiet and get out or I’ll call the police,” Azhar said.

This prompted Steven Sim (PH-Bukit Mertajam) to tell Azhar not to do so as it would set a precedent.

Azhar had been urged to act after Azalina allowed Tiong to decide if he wanted to explain or apologise for his remark on Noor Hisham, which the Bintulu MP declined, saying he was voicing the people’s unhappiness.

Azalina also kicked RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) out of the hall, after he repeatedly demanded an apology from Tiong for criticising a civil servant.

After Lim left, Azhar clarified that it was “not good” for him to overrule his deputy’s decision.

Just before the shouting match, Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) urged Azhar to demand an apology from Tiong and to ask him to retract his statement against Noor Hisham. saying it was “disgusting”.

“Noor Hisham himself said he’s not afraid of dying since it’s up to God. (Tiong’s remark) was insulting and must be condemned by this Dewan. I call on all government MPs to condemn the remark, too,” he said.

Tiong had questioned why Noor Hisham was not visiting hospitals to provide moral support to medical teams. He also accused the director-general of seeking publicity by holding his daily press briefings.

Rayer defended Noor Hisham and told Tiong to apologise, raising his voice over his microphone which had been muted.

Azalina repeatedly instructed Rayer to be silent as she wanted to make a ruling and, after several warnings, he was asked to leave the hall.