Hannah Yeoh Questions Speaker's Double Standards For Inaction Towards Tajuddin's Behaviour
The former deputy minister questioned why the rules of Dewan Rakyat were not being honoured.
By Jasmine Chea — 21 Jul 2022, 05:45 PM
The second parliamentary meeting got heated when Pengerang member of parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was interrupted by Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman
Yesterday, 20 July, Tajuddin interrupted Azalina while she was discussing the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021.
Tajuddin first interjected and called for a standing order as Azalina was speaking. He was then given the floor by Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun before Azalina could make her second point.
Whilst talking, Jelutong MP Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer stood up and told Tajuddin to get his facts straight before taking the floor.
Sanisvara's interruption caused the debate to reach a boiling point when Tajuddin began to lose his cool and used strong language whilst arguing with Sanisvara.
Tajuddin was later reportedly heard using a foul word by other members of parliament. His microphone was turned off when he said it.
Despite being asked by Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Rashid Hasnon to calm down and give the floor to Azalina, Tajuddin continued to argue with him
This prompted Sanisvara to urge Rashid to send Tajuddin out of the room as Tajuddin's behaviour was out of line in parliament. He even went as far as questioning Rashid if he was afraid of the Pasir Salak MP and why he was hesitant to take action against him.
As a result of this argument, Azalina lost three minutes of her time allowance to speak.
When things cooled down, Tajuddin began to insult the women leaders of Democratic Action Party (DAP) in what was reported to be a sexist and crude manner.
He said, "Their [DAP women] attitudes are indecent. Their mouths are lewd."
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh did not hold back on her thoughts regarding the issue
Despite his words causing a rift in parliament, Tajuddin was not sent out or stopped from speaking. This is when Yeoh decided to bring up the incident where Warisan-Kota Belud MP Munirah Majilis was suspended from parliament for two days when discussing the Sulu claim.
The incident was used as proof of the Speaker's double standards.
Yeoh also pointed out that when it comes to a man or an UMNO member, the Speaker is afraid to take action when they are misbehaving in parliament.
She said, "Why is there a double standard? How can female ministers be bullied like this?"
Many netizens agreed with Yeoh and commended her for speaking out about this issue
Netizens showed their support on Yeoh's Twitter account, where she reposted the video from her personal TikTok account.
Other netizens, however, zeroed in on the speaker who they think has double standards.
"If we observe the speaker, it looks like he couldn't care less what the YB [Yeoh] is saying. He keeps quickly cutting her off. But it is truly double standards," one user observed.
Other users also felt that he was taking sides and not being fair as he was not properly listening to Yeoh's words.
