[ad_1]
SHAH ALAM: There was a minor drama in the Selangor legislative session on Monday (November 2) when five members of the Opposition arrived dressed in Baju Melayu and Songkok.
They were the opposition chief Rizam Ismail (Barisan-Sungai Air Tawar), Datuk Shamsudin Lias (Barisan-Sungai Burong), Datuk Mohd Imran Tamrin (Barisan-Sungai Panjang), Zakaria Hanafi (Barisan-Semenyih) and Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PAS-Sijangkang).
Speaker Ng Suee Lim (Photo) reminded the five of them that according to the House rules, they should wear lounge suits and not traditional ones, which is only allowed on Fridays.
“Please comply with the standing orders of the House,” Ng said, adding that he was simply advising them to dress properly for the assembly.
Later that day, Ng told a news conference that the five assemblymen had intentionally worn the national dress to generate controversy.
“They had planned this in advance to earn political mileage. Because I asked them about it, they will claim that I am a racist who does not allow the use of Baju Melayu,” Ng said.
He said his concern was primarily the need to respect the House rules.
Ng added that he had also reprimanded Amanah Assemblyman Taman Templer, Mohd Sany Hamzan, for wearing the Baju Melayu on a date other than Friday.
He had also reprimanded Bukit Lanjan PKR Assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong for wearing a white jacket during the state assembly held in March last year.
Ng said the Opposition should not stoop so low to use petty subjects to stoke racial and religious sentiments.
“I am disappointed with such irresponsible behavior. It is immature to use petty subjects to attack,” he said.
He added that he has been political long enough to know that elected representatives “can silat, kungfu or muay thai” in the political arena, but there was a correct way to do it.
“If varied dress is allowed, the assembly will become a fashion show,” Ng said, adding that no action would be taken against the five.
Meanwhile, Rizam admitted that he and the other four assembly members had planned to attend the state assembly in traditional dress.
“We are discussing the budget that the mentri kissing presented and we think that since it is an important day, why not come to Baju Melayu?” Rizam said.
He added that they would all be coming in ballroom suits from Tuesday (November 3) onwards.
[ad_2]
