News

  • Nation
  • World Updates
  • Courts
  • Parliament
  • Columnists
  • Opinion
  • Honours List

Friday October 26, 2007

Jerai MP’s remarks not okay with Karpal

THE term OKU (orang kurang upaya) struck a chord among MPs with wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh (DAP - Bukit Gelugor) asking Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN - Jerai) to retract a statement he made.

“If he doesn’t want to retract it, then I appeal to the Speaker to order him to do so,” said Karpal Singh when debating on the Supply Bill 2008.

On Monday, Karpal Singh said some Barisan MPs did not display proper conduct in the House by uttering disparaging and obscene words.

An irked Badruddin was quick to remind Karpal Singh that he too had used improper words such as binatang (animal) and bodoh (stupid).

“But if you are already having this attitude (calling names) in a wheelchair, then God has shown you. It is your arrogant attitude,” he said.

Yesterday, Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib said the matter had already passed and was part of a debate discussion.

Fong Po Kuan (DAP - Batu Gajah) insisted that the statement should not be brushed aside just because the matter had passed.

“Jerai (Badruddin) must show his regret. This is not the first time. Remember the bocor issue? He should withdraw and apologise,” she said.

Later, Badruddin apologised to the disabled community if he had insulted them.

“I never called him (Karpal Singh) OKU to begin with. It was Batu Gajah (Fong) who said the word.

“I defend OKUs and even invited them to my Hari Raya open house. It is never my intention to insult OKUs and I apologise if I have done so. DAP just wants cheap publicity,” he said.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

News Poll