Alleged sexist remark sparks war of words in Dewan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR: Parliamentarians from both sides of the political divide were embroiled in a shouting match when a deputy minister uttered an alleged sexist remark on a female MP.
Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman made the remark against Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) during a question and answer session.
Tajuddin was heard uttering "the only woman with a Kok".
Before that, both sides were trading barbs on issues related to the Bersih 5 gathering last Saturday.
The opposition floor argued that Tajuddin was referring to the male genital in the remark.
Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) then urged the Speaker to bar Tajuddin from entering the Dewan Rakyat for his actions.
"Not only did he not answer my supplementary question during question and answer time, but he made grossly inappropriate remarks.
"He is not qualified to be in the Dewan Rakyat and I call on the Speaker to bar him from entering," Mahfuz said.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee however dismissed calls by opposition lawmakers to censure Tajuddin, stating that Tajuddin was referring to the surname "Kok" without any ill intention.
"We do not want to prolong it ... I decide that he (Tajuddin) was referring to the surname (Kok)," Kiandee said.
Khalid Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam) and Kasthuri Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan) among others were clearly not satisfied with the explanation provided by Kiandee and came to Kok's defence.
"We are not that stupid. We know exactly what he means," Khalid said.
"The words uttered by Pasir Salak are un-parliamentary and the speaker must ask him to retract his statement," Kasthuri added.
Tajuddin responded to the call in a rather bizarre way by mockingly repeating the statement from the opposition MPs in a high-pitched tone, leaving the House and media personnel bemused.
The drama did not end there as both Khalid and Tajuddin shouted and hurled abuses at each other.
"You are a disgrace to the songkok you are wearing ... a rude and 'sial' minister!" Khalid shouted.
Khalid later dared Tajuddin to sue him by repeating his "sial" remark in a press conference outside Parliament.
"He challenged me to repeat my statement outside Parliament, so here I am.
"He wears a songkok like a Malay, but his words, actions and attitude is unbecoming of an MP and this is not Malay culture.
"His actions qualify him as a 'sial' (deputy) minister who uses 'sial' language. This can be translated to 'damned' or 'cursed' in English," he said.
Kok urged Prime Ministet Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to sack Tajuddin and said there would have been no commotion if he had simply apologised.