KUALA LUMPUR – A Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmaker who was apparently caught vaping inside the Dewan Rakyat has earned the ire of netizens, with a resounding majority condemning the “unparliamentary” behaviour.
In a photo shared on Twitter by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official photographer Sadiq Asyraf, an opposition MP was spotted supposedly vaping as other opposition members stood up from their seats to leave the Dewan yesterday evening.
The lawmaker, who is believed to be Bersatu’s Tanah Merah MP Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz, was captured in a shot depicting the opposition’s walkout from the Dewan Rakyat after Putrajaya MP Datuk Radzi Jidin was booted out from the lower House for causing a ruckus.
In the photo, Ikmal was seen allegedly taking a puff from a vape device as Anwar, who is also Tambun MP, stands in his spot to deliver his winding-up speech on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review in the Parliament, which is a non-smoking area.
Commenting on the post, DAP’s Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan briefly called on the MP to respect the Dewan as other Twitter users chimed in to criticise the opposition lawmaker for his “unbecoming” and “rude” act.
One user, @adyalyana, posited that the opposition had been up in arms to leave the Dewan just to “smoke up” while another user by the name of @kimkampoom alleged that the walkout was due to how the MP “has an addiction to fill.”
User @Malacire also called on the Health Ministry and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to take action against the MP, claiming that laws must be enforced to avoid suspicions of double standards.
Meanwhile, user @jeffreychiang66 slammed the MP for his “insolence,” saying: “No wonder (the) next generation is getting worse, (it’s) because of these types of imbecile behaviour from such seniors.”
Expressing similar sentiments, user @ichbinSyafiq questioned how leaders can urge students to not vape in schools when an MP himself seemingly “cannot control his addiction and (wait to) vape at home or a place more suitable than Parliament.”
During yesterday’s Parliament proceedings, Anwar had attempted to explain the issue of the dismissal not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, which has been on the receiving end of brickbats from opposition figures.
However, his speech was interrupted multiple times by opposition MPs, including Radzi, who took offence with a comment Anwar had made.
“Putrajaya (Radzi), you can laugh, but your (PN) administration did the same thing,” Anwar said, to which a visibly emotional Radzi immediately stood up and cited Standing Order 36(6) on how no member shall impute improper motives to any other member.
The opposition, including Bersatu’s Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal and PAS’ Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, had previously submitted multiple motions to debate Zahid’s DNAA in the Dewan Rakyat. – September 20, 2023