A question on alleged fearmongering during election campaigns sparked a brief uproar in the Dewan Rakyat today after Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) cited past political claims which he said were used to frighten voters.
PETALING JAYA: A question on alleged fearmongering during election campaigns sparked a brief uproar in the Dewan Rakyat today after Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) cited past political claims which he said were used to frighten voters.
The exchange took place during the oral question-and-answer session after Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli answered a question from Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) on the Islamic Education curriculum.
Idris had asked how the government assesed the curiculum’s effectiveness in producing knowledgable and critical students who could discuss contemporary issues in a healthy mannerl.
In a supplementary question, Sany said past election campaigns had seen various claims allegedly used to frighten voters.
“In past election campaigns, we heard all sorts of things. For example, if (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim became prime minister, Muslims would not be able to pray, children would not be allowed to wear headscarves and would be forced to wear skirts.
“Islam would be threatened, Malays would be threatened, the Malay Rulers would be threatened.So I would like to ask the Education Ministry, because this is a good question as we want to produce students who are critical and able to think,” he said.
Sany then asked what mechanisms were in place to curb such “evil sentiments” spread by irresponsible parties to obtain support, win votes and frighten the public.
However, several opposition MPs objected to the remarks, with Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) standing up to cite Standing Order 36(6).
“That is fake news, Yang Berhormat. Fake news,” Awang said.
Sany replied that he was not accusing anyone and insisted the claims had been made during political campaigns.
Awang continued to object, arguing that Sany’s remarks were based on assumptions and should be withdrawn.
“You cannot bring assumptions into the Dewan. That is a malicious assumption and a malicious statement,” Awang said, urging Deputy Speaker Alice Lau Kiong Yieng to order the Hulu Langat MP to retract his remarks.
The exchange grew louder as MPs spoke over one another.
The exchange escalated as Wang told Sany to “settle the pig issue in Selangor first” before speaking on other matters.
Sany responded: “What pig issue? That is fake news. I did not mention pigs.”
Sany then asked Marhamah to respond on racial, religious and communal sentiments, but the Deputy Speaker intervened.
“If you cannot ask a question properly, then there is no need to ask. Enough. Aren’t you ashamed?” Alice said.
Lau later said there was no need for the minister to answer as the time for responses had ended.
She added that if Pendang was dissatisfied, he could file a motion later.
