Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS-Kubang Kerian), who had been quietly observing the chaotic proceedings as BN MPs went in full defence mode, stood up to remind MPs to watch their conduct in the lower house.
BN MPs had hit out at claims made by Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) and Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) that the previous government had not allocated funds for tahfiz schools.
“These proceedings are also being watched by young pupils from school. They are here to see us debate. We need to show good conduct.
“Speaker, I respect the views by Rasah (Cha Kee Chin). But the speaker has also ordered Rasah to retract his remarks. With all due respect, what is the problem with retracting if you have already been instructed to retract and correct the facts?
“The house does not need to waste the time like this, discussing topics which are not beneficial. Thank you,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
Prior to that, the lower house had been thrown into chaos over claims by Fahmi, and subsequently Cha, that the previous BN government had not allocated funds for tahfiz schools.
“Over on the other side (the opposition) they always say how much will be given, but they never give,” Fahmi said. This was subsequently supported by Cha.
“For instance, Pontian (Ahmad Maslan) said that there was aid given by BN for tahfiz schools. But there is none. Check the 2018 Budget. There is zero for tahfiz schools. PH, on the other hand, is giving RM50 million,” Cha said.
At this juncture, Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) stood up and told Cha off, saying he should not say something that was not right, and asked if the first-term MP was not ashamed of himself.
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) urged Cha to correct what he said, stating that Cha was lying to the house. He also asked Cha to retract what he had said.
Former minister Noh Omar stood up and accused Cha of misleading the house by saying that BN did not give any assistance.
“We did give. I gave. He is lying. Don’t lie to the house,” said Noh (BN-Tanjung Karang).
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohd Ariff Md Yusof interjected, pointing out that the issue at hand was whether what Cha was saying was true in relation to the aid for tahfiz schools. He also asked for the facts to be given to Cha.
“The issue here is who is telling the truth. Who is closest to the truth. Talk among yourselves before I make a ruling,” he said.
Noh said that he had the facts, reiterating that he himself had given the funds to tahfiz schools.
Opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datok) said when he was chairman of a special Cabinet committee on tahfiz schools, RM90 million had been given to tahfiz schools.
Khairy also stood up and, in citing a Bernama report, said that former prime minister Najib Razak had announced RM50 million to GiatMara to maintain all tahfiz schools.
Former rural and regional development minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob also schooled Cha, telling him that he should be referring to Mara, and not the education ministry, on allocations for tahfiz schools.
In between, Cha was forced into defensive mode, calling on the BN MPs to not bully him just because he was a new MP.
As things became heated in the house, Ariff urged all MPs to calm down, and ordered Cha to retract what he had said.
“If we continue like this, it will be chaotic. Many have not had the chance to debate. It is not fair to the others,” he said.
Calls of “tarik balik” continued to ring out in the Dewan Rakyat, with BN MPs unhappy with Cha for not properly retracting what he had said.
This prompted Ariff to order Cha to retract his words and Tuan Ibrahim to stand up to call for calm as the shouting continued.
Cha then complied, saying: “I respect the order given by the speaker.”