KUALA LUMPUR – What started as tranquil debates on the Audit (Amendment) Bill 2024 turned into a fracas on two occasions when opposition lawmakers made false accusations against DAP.
The first altercation in the Dewan Rakyat today arose when Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN) accused DAP of attempting to abolish the Community Development Department (Kemas).
In his speech, Shahidan called for an audit of the allocations meant for opposition MPs, alleging that the funds were being directed to political branch leaders who lost elections in opposition constituencies, as well as to Kemas.
“I’ve heard stories that allocations meant for MPs were channelled to Kemas and leaders who lost to us.
“What right do they have to these allocations? It’s not halal,” Shahidan said.
Also, he pointed out the hypocrisy of the government in funding Kemas when DAP had previously called for the department to be abolished.
This statement prompted two DAP MPs, Teresa Kok (Seputeh-PH) and R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH), to demand that Shahidan retract his statement.
Kok clarified that DAP had never suggested closing Kemas centres.
When Deputy Speaker Alice Lau asked Shahidan to provide proof for his allegation, the opposition MP claimed that DAP was part of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, which intended to close various services such as National Service and the National Civics Bureau as well.
“I will retract the statement, but I will add that DAP in the PH government was involved with closing down Kemas,” Shahidan said.
Both Kok and Rayer said this statement was far worse than Shahidan’s previous claim.
Lau then asked Rayer to file a motion compelling Shahidan to provide proof for his statement. Failing to do so would subject the Arau MP to the rights and privileges committee.
Later, during his winding-up speech as deputy law minister, M. Kulasegaran was interrupted by Datuk Awang Hashim (Pendang-PN), who claimed that a DAP politician had sought land in Kelantan.
When Rayer demanded that Awang reveal who the DAP politician was, Awang failed to do so. Instead, he claimed that the DAP member involved not only requested the land but also obtained it.
“Tell us which DAP leader tried to get land in Kelantan,” Rayer said.
“You are accusing. If you have no proof, retract what you said.” – July 3, 2024
