This came after a comment by Lydia Ong Kok Fooi (DAP-Berapit) while she was debating the motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

It started after Ong was trying to fend off an interjection from Shah Headan Hussain Ayoob Shah (BN-Teluk Bahang).

“Hello Teluk Bahang, I cannot give way to you. I have a sore throat, you know.

“I must finish my debate… before my voice sounds like YB (Abdul) Malik (Kassim) (PKR-Batu Maung),” she said in jest while looking at Malik.

This prompted those in the august house to burst into laughter.

The laughter lasted for a minute, with even Speaker Law Choo Kiang visibly left in stitches. He wiped his tears with a tissue paper.

Malik took the ribbing nonchalantly and put on a smiling face as everyone around him laughed.

The state assembly continues to hear debates from assemblymen until tomorrow, before a winding-up session on Thursday.

When asked later what he thought about the reference to his voice, Malik said: “Yes, no problem. It is a gift from Allah.”