KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman today triggered uproar by referring to DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok as a "woman with a Kok" in the Dewan Rakyat.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee refused to reprimand Tajuddin, however, on the grounds that the latter was merely referring to Kok's "surname".

Unhappy with Kiandee's ruling, Opposition MPs continued to demand that Tajuddin apologise, with Amanah's Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad calling Tajuddin "sial".

The heated argument, which took place during Question Time, ended when Kiandee directed proceedings to the next question.

Tajuddin later threatened to take legal action against Khalid if the latter repeated his insults outside the House.

"If my father and mother were alive today, how would they feel, someone calling me sial?" he asked.

However, Khalid insisted that Tajuddin had "crossed the line" with his insult towards Kok.

"I maintain that his behaviour was unbecoming of a deputy minister and his behaviour was sial, which means damned and cursed," he added.