KUALA LUMPUR: A ruckus broke out before Prime Minister's Question Time (PMQT) on Tuesday (June 6) with several Opposition MPs questioning the Dewan Rakyat Speaker on the validity of a question posed to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The ruckus began when Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) cited Standing Order 23(1)C that a question shall not contain any argument, interference, opinion, imputation, epithet or misleading, ironical or offensive expression nor shall a question be frivolous or be asked seeking information on trivial matters.

He was referring to the first question during PMQT where Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) was scheduled to ask the Prime Minister on potential actions to be taken against calls by Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to amend the Federal Constitution to include Penang within Kedah, adding that it could cause disunity among the people, especially those from Penang.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, however, ruled that the question was valid, and it was allowed to stand.

“I have seen the question and made the decision that it does not conflict with the issue Beluran raised,” he said in Parliament on Tuesday (June 6).

A shouting match then ensued when Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) raised Standing Order 23(1)(B) with Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) also chiming in.

Hulu Langat lawmaker Mohd Sany Hamzan then interrupted calling for Awang to be seated, with Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim also interrupting and asking for Sany to be quiet.

Johari, however, said he stood by his decision and called for everyone to be seated and for proceedings to continue as scheduled.

“If anyone is unsatisfied, please file a separate motion to me,” he told the August House.