Chaos in Dewan: Noh Omar defies suspension order
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Noh Omar caused a chaos at the Dewan Rakyat here today after he entered the August House during proceedings despite being barred.
Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming, who chaired the sitting this morning, had ruled that the Tanjong Karang MP would be barred for three days beginning today for accusing him of being unfit to chair the August House.
Noh, who was not present when the ruling was made, defied the order and entered the Dewan when fellow deputy speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon replaced Nga at the chair.
Realising Noh’s presence, Mohd Rashid reminded the Umno MP of the earlier ruling, and asked that he leave the house, but he refused.
“I’m curious, can you actually mete out a punishment without my presence. How am I supposed to defend myself? What policy is this? This is embarrassing,” Noh said, in the presence of the Singapore Parliament speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and his delegate who are on an official visit here.
When reminded to act accordingly in front of the Singapore delegates, Noh said: “We should ask them in fact, have they ever removed someone from the Dewan when the person is not present.”
Seeing Noh’s persistence to remain in the house, Mohd Rashid asked the Serjeant-at-Arms to carry out their duties and remove Noh.
Noh was adamant on staying. This sparked anger from Pakatan Harapan MPs who demanded that the Umno lawmaker be booted out.
The ensuing chaos between the two benches carried on for a few minutes before Mohd Rashid eventually called for the Dewan to break for lunch at 1pm.
The shoutings continued after the deputy speaker left, before all lawmakers eventually made their way out.
