Translate
16 November 2018
Recent video and photo showing Anwar Ibrahim being friendly with several Umno lawmakers in the MPs lounge in Parliament has raised eyebrows and led to speculation
It's common for MPs to clash in Parliament, then joke over tea
Friday, 16 Nov 20181:19 PM MYT
by hemananthani sivanandam, martin carvalho, and rahimy rahim
PETALING JAYA: A recent video and photo showing PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim being friendly with several Umno lawmakers in the MPs lounge in Parliament has raised eyebrows and led to speculation about political manoeuvres.
But many others have pointed out that it is quite common for MPs to put aside their political differences and just … well, get along.
It is in fact common in the Dewan Rakyat for lawmakers to clash and fiercely defend their opinions, but for them to be friendly in the MPs’ lounge, which is right next to the august Hall.
Sometimes while trading barbs, MPs often joke that they can talk things over while having tea in the MPs’ lounge.
Nothing untoward about the photo, going viral, showing Anwar chatting with former Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Parit Sulong MP and Wanita Umno chief Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad, and Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, among others.
Or of the 49-second viral video which showed Hishammuddin, Anwar and Nazri laughing and joking with one another.
Some people are trying to portray the photo and video in a negative light, claiming that it indicates MPs are about to jump ship, especially in light of the claim by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Datuk A. Kadir Jasin that there is a possibility that as many as 40 lawmakers from Umno might join Bersatu.
Nazri, however, brushed these claims and said there was nothing to read into the picture and video.
“It was just coincidental. I was talking to Hishammuddin at one table and Anwar came in with his Korean friends and sat behind me.
“Only later did we notice that Anwar was there, and we turned and talked to him.
“Anwar has not seen Hishammuddin since the last election, so that is all to it — old friends,” the Padang Renggas MP told The Star.
Nazri, who was the former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Parliament affairs, said the culture of MPs being friendly was not new.
He said he had practised cross-party consultation with lawmakers from both sides of the divide when he was minister in charge of Parliament.
“This is something I have been doing all these years, since 2003. I am like that. There is nothing new.
“This is very common in Parliament, to be honest. When I became the Minister in charge of Parliament, I introduced this culture of MPs mixing around and not to be seen separated by their political leanings.
“So it has been practised over the years now,” he added.
Abdul Azeez, too, said it was normal for MPs to bond, whatever their political differences.
“Don't blow it out of proportion,” he said.
First-term Pakatan Harapan lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah, too, agreed that there was nothing unusual.
“All of them talk to each other outside the Dewan. I speak to the opposition lawmakers, too, but it does not mean we do not differ,” said the MP for Petaling Jaya.
Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil took to Facebook to say, “I can tell you firsthand that most MPs who are ferocious in the Dewan can be actually chummy in the lounge or outside the Dewan.
“A few days ago, YB Pasir Salak (Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman) and YB Tanjung Karang (Tan Sri Noh Omar), for example, were ‘barking’ and shouting at me for some reason or another in the Dewan; we met outside and we were laughing the whole fracas off.
“In other words, the lounge is an open space that allows us to reach across the aisle, to speak informally and be generally friendly with each other,” he posted on Facebook on Friday.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/16/its-common-for-mps-to-clash-in-parliament-then-joke-over-tea/#3pXIeZjDJEoSzARd.99
Popular Posts - Last 7 days
-
MACC remands ex-CEO, two others for suspected bribery involving RM24 mln Bernama Julai 19, 2022 Three individuals, including the ex-CEO of ...
-
37 individuals remanded in probe into misappropriation of PenjanaKerjaya funds Bernama Julai 15, 2022 MACC today remanded 37 individuals to...
-
Southeast Asia’s first purpose-built township, KL Wellness City (KLWC), has launched its flagship tertiary hospital through KL Internation...
-
Life expectancy in Malaysia has risen by 12 years Bernama Julai 11, 2022 Life expectancy at birth in 2021 is expected to increase to 75.6 y...
-
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck wed in Las Vegas, reports say Reuters Julai 18, 2022 Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend a special screen...
-
Crackhouse Comedy Club splashed with paint Bernama Julai 20, 2022 1 The Crackhouse Comedy Club in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here was splashed wit...
-
Abe killer wielded homemade gun, grudge over mother's financial ruin, police say Reuters Julai 11, 2022 Tetsuya Yamagami, suspected of ...
-
Debate on Sulu Group's claims may jeopardise national interests - Dewan Rakyat Speaker Bernama Julai 20, 2022 A debate on the Sulu Group...
-
KUALA LUMPUR - A total of 1,324 companies from 60 countries are participating in the Defense Services Asia 2024 and National Security Asia...
-
A source tells Reuters there has been an uptick in money moving to Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, through the Malaysian financial sy...
Popular Posts - Last 30 days
-
‘Alas pintu’ dengan gambar Kaabah sebenarnya sejadah mini - AEON BiG April 13, 2024 Susulan penularan gambar yang mendakwa penjualan ‘alas ...
-
Screenshot of a video shared by the public of the incident at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Arrival Hall 1 on Sunday. SEPANG...
-
Malaysia detects 3,902 new COVID cases, 8 deaths Melissa Fernando ASTRO AWANi Julai 20, 2022 Malaysia detects 3,902 new COVID cases, 8 de...
-
Saudi says application for 1444 H umrah visa opens from today Bernama Julai 14, 2022 The Ministry of Haj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia has ann...
-
Coach Maloney and FAM part ways after eight years Bernama Julai 13, 2022 The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has released under fir...
-
MAN DIES AS HIS BMW I7 CRASHES AND BURNS, WOMAN FRIEND SERIOUSLY INJURED A man died while his woman friend was seriously injured when the ca...
-
King expresses hope for increased investment from Chinese companies in Malaysia Bernama April 12, 2024 His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim presented...
-
MACC remands ex-CEO, two others for suspected bribery involving RM24 mln Bernama Julai 19, 2022 Three individuals, including the ex-CEO of ...
-
Naz Empire's defamation lawsuit against Awal Ashaari to go to trial as mediation fails Bernama Julai 12, 2022 The defamation lawsuit f...
-
37 individuals remanded in probe into misappropriation of PenjanaKerjaya funds Bernama Julai 15, 2022 MACC today remanded 37 individuals to...
Blog Archive
-
►
2023
(3771)
- December (311)
- November (322)
- October (286)
- September (288)
- August (365)
- July (349)
- June (372)
- May (316)
- April (279)
- March (301)
- February (245)
- January (337)
-
►
2022
(4309)
- December (352)
- November (422)
- October (288)
- September (281)
- August (347)
- July (303)
- June (335)
- May (406)
- April (341)
- March (371)
- February (390)
- January (473)
-
►
2021
(9030)
- December (636)
- November (647)
- October (809)
- September (797)
- August (880)
- July (894)
- June (747)
- May (780)
- April (580)
- March (629)
- February (643)
- January (988)
-
►
2020
(6800)
- December (819)
- November (698)
- October (832)
- September (729)
- August (548)
- July (558)
- June (615)
- May (394)
- April (368)
- March (453)
- February (439)
- January (347)
-
►
2019
(4089)
- December (411)
- November (425)
- October (375)
- September (279)
- August (397)
- July (353)
- June (326)
- May (315)
- April (266)
- March (318)
- February (293)
- January (331)
-
▼
2018
(4100)
- December (305)
- November (304)
- October (357)
- September (352)
- August (420)
- July (442)
- June (366)
- May (412)
- April (343)
- March (275)
- February (233)
- January (291)
-
►
2017
(3888)
- December (268)
- November (293)
- October (352)
- September (309)
- August (356)
- July (300)
- June (319)
- May (354)
- April (316)
- March (335)
- February (306)
- January (380)
-
►
2016
(4563)
- December (331)
- November (328)
- October (378)
- September (415)
- August (404)
- July (380)
- June (310)
- May (370)
- April (430)
- March (484)
- February (355)
- January (378)
-
►
2015
(4588)
- December (402)
- November (392)
- October (393)
- September (375)
- August (450)
- July (392)
- June (456)
- May (407)
- April (408)
- March (374)
- February (262)
- January (277)