Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein Apologises For Vaping In Dewan Rakyat
In 2018, the Parliament building was declared as a no-smoking zone.
By Arisha Rozaidee — 06 Aug 2020, 06:09 PM
A video of Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein vaping while in the Dewan Rakyat chamber recently went viral
On Thursday, 6 August, Twitter user @shamienhereyo posted the clip along with a caption that read, "Adoi, really causing problems lah."
The video has since garnered over 160,000 views.
In the clip, Hishammuddin can be seen slipping the electronic cigarette under his face mask and then exhaling smoke.
He has since publicly apologised for his actions.
According to The Star, the eight-second video is believed to have been taken on Monday, 3 August, when Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong was delivering his speech.
Today, the minister wrote on Twitter, "Sorry, I didn't realise - it's a new habit. I apologise to the Dewan and promise to not do it again."
In 2018, the Parliament building was declared as a no-smoking zone.
Kluang Member of Parliament (MP) Wong Shu Qi raised the matter during today's Parliament sitting and requested for Hishammuddin to apologise to the members of the floor.
New Straits Times previously reported in 2018 that the Ministry of Health (MOH) under the Pakatan Harapan ruling had closed all the building's smoking corners and only allowed people to smoke outside.
During today's parliament sitting, Wong cited Standing Order 41 (d) which states that an MP is not allowed to smoke in the Dewan Rakyat chamber when a sitting is in session.
"According to Twitter, it was raised that Sembrong MP was vaping on Monday when the Transport Minister was speaking," she said.
"The Home Minister (Hishammuddin) himself has already admitted it on his Twitter account."
When she requested for Hishammuddin to officially apologise, the Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Rashid Hasnon said that they will look further into the matter and proceeded to call the next minister for their winding-up speech.
