Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman was heckled at and called a “small boy” during today’s parliamentary sitting by none other than Baling MP Abdul Azeez.
The former youth and sports minister was posing a question to Arau MP Shahidan Kassim about Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, who had breached quarantine after returning from Turkey and later fined a smaller amount of RM1,000 (US$230).
The 27-year-old was then interrupted by Abdul Azeez, 53, who tried to shut him up.
“He is a hero, he brought in RM82 billion for the country!” Abdul Azeez said. “Why do we have a budak kecik (small boy) in the parliament? He has already paid the fine, that is enough!”
Abdul Azeez is not one to shy away from uncouth remarks in Parliament. Previously, the UMNO politician found himself in hot water when he allegedly made a racist and sexist remark towards Batu Kawan representative Kasthuriraani Patto.
Mohd Khairuddin was fined on Aug 7 for breaching the two-week quarantine after returning from Turkey on July 7. His punishment was inconsistent with others. Just two weeks ago, a senior citizen who violated the same quarantine measures was fined eight times the amount and jailed.
“Does the Arau representative (Shahidan Kassim) approve of the fact our commodities minister, Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali had flouted quarantine measures when he flew over from Turkey but was let off the hook?” Syed Saddiq asked in Parliament earlier today.
After being told off by Abdul Azeez, he said: “Don’t defend people who are in the wrong. Don’t lie. If we lie in parliament, the people will lose their trust in us.”
Two days ago, Syed Saddiq said on Twitter that the inconsistent punishments were “weird,” adding that Mohd Khairuddin’s fine was cheaper than the amount individuals needed to pay to stay at quarantine facilities, set at RM2,100 for 14 days.
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