KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 — Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii wants Parliament’s Committee of Privileges to take action against Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali for allegedly misleading the lower House with her remarks on the government’s Menu Rahmah initiative.
The DAP lawmaker claimed his PAS counterpart’s remarks linking the affordable meals under the scheme to cancer were untrue, irresponsible and create a stigma against the autistic and disabled communities.
“I strongly believe she not only needs to retract and clarify that statement, but make a clear and sincere apology to the different communities that are affected and also the public,” he said in a statement today.
He said he has written to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani to table a motion under Standing Order 36(12), which states that any member who represents statements to mislead the House is deemed to be in contempt of the House and may be referred to the Committee of Privileges for the offence.
The controversy first erupted last week when Dr Halimah was debating the royal address.
“Do not let it come to the point that the B40 are given food supplies of low quality that may expose them to cancer, autoimmune disease and autism,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat on February 14.
B40 refers to the country’s bottom 40 per cent income group.
Since then, Dr Halimah has claimed that her remarks were misinterpreted but the storm has not yet abated, triggering another row in the lower House between her and Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan from Amanah yesterday.
Dr Yii also insisted that the Hansard and a video recording of the House sitting that day clearly show Dr Halimah had made the statement, adding that copies have been sent to the Speaker as evidence.
“Therefore, to ensure that each parliamentary is held to the highest standard of accountability in our speech and deed, I urge the Speaker to approve the motion that was submitted in the House to refer the Member of Parliament Kapar to the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges in accordance with Parliamentary Standing Order 36(12),” he said.
Menu Rahmah was launched on January 31 by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
Around 12,000 premises have already offered Menu Rahmah, including restaurants affiliated with the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association, the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association, Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association, and Mydin supermarket outlets nationwide.
