KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — De facto law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman today reminded federal lawmakers against making rude, sexist, or malicious remarks that are against Parliament's Standing Orders.
The minister in the Prime Minister's Department did not refer specifically to any lawmaker or incident in her statement.
She also reminded MPs to respect the decisions of the Speaker and his deputies, again without making reference.
“The regular use of rude words and allegations include those against the prime minister and the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.
“Such behaviour can cause provocation and tension in the Dewan, and raises concerns over possible physical confrontation,” she said.
The most recent case was yesterday when Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman called Seputeh MP Theresa Kok as “the only woman with a Kok” during Question Time in Parliament.
Opposition lawmakers alleged that his remark was a sexual innuendo, but Tajuddin, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee insisted that it was only a reference to her surname.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad also labelled Tajuddin “sial”, meaning “damned” in Malay, during the exchange that took place following the latter's remarks.
