PAS has slammed former Damansara MP Tony Pua over his claim that the debate quality of Opposition MPs in the Dewan Rakyat lacked substance.
According to party deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, the DAP man’s comment indicated that he did not fully follow the debate of all the MPs in the august house.
“Many major issues were raised about the economy, investment, climate change, the impact of the ringgit’s depreciation, and much more, while issues revolving around attire, language, race and religion were barely touched upon by the representatives.
“They only sought explanations from the government regarding 3R-related issues,” he was reported as saying to Free Malaysia Today, referring to issues related to race, religion and royalty.
Speaking on the Are We OK?” podcast hosted by fellow DAP colleague Dr Ong Kian Ming yesterday (Jan 1), Pua had said one of the most obvious things in Parliamentary debates these days is the “near absolute lack of substance” among opposition MPs when debating.
“The topics and issues are always single-dimensional about race, religion, alcohol, and dressing,” he had remarked.
“Running a country involves so many other things and all you can talk about is race, language use, religious issues, alcohol, and dressing. That’s all you can talk about?”
Meanwhile, the Kubang Kerian MP went on to claim that Pua was trying to divert the attention on the recent controversy sparked by Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham.
Ngeh had recently proposed for non-Muslim constitutional experts to be included in a committee studying the conflicts between Shariah law and the Federal Constitution, which earned the ire of UMNO leaders and a rebuke by the Sultan of Selangor.
The DAP man has since apologised for his remarks. – Jan 2, 2024
Main pic credit: Bernama
