Awang was defending Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau), who questioned why the motion he submitted to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul on Tuesday was still pending a decision when Taufiq’s motion submitted yesterday had been approved.

“I already instructed Pendang (Awang) to retract (his remarks). Since he refuses, he is welcome to ‘take a break’ until after lunch,” said deputy speaker Alice Lau.

In response, Awang quipped “we are all ‘anak papa’”, before Lau instructed him to leave the House.

Taufiq is the sixth of Johari’s eight children.

The Dewan Rakyat earlier erupted into chaos when Awang proclaimed “anak papa, anak papa” and said there was “conflict of interest” in Taufiq’s motion being approved before Shahidan’s.

Several MPs, including P Prabakaran (PH-Batu), RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong), R Yuneswaran (PH-Segamat) and Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat), came to Taufiq’s defence and urged Awang to retract his remarks.

“We are all ‘anak papa’, why should he feel offended?” Awang said.

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) defended Awang, saying there was double standard in Taufiq’s motion being prioritised.

“To me, there is nothing wrong with Pendang saying that because (Taufiq) is his father’s son, there is a conflict of interest,” he said.

Lau ruled that there is no conflict of interest, and said Awang’s remarks could create a negative perception.

She earlier informed the MPs that Taufiq’s motion, to discuss the seizure of a hidden stash of 180 tonnes of local white in an unlicensed storage warehouse recently, had been approved to be discussed in special chambers today.

Shahidan had submitted two motions to discuss the recruitment of foreign nurses and barbers.

Lau later informed Shahidan that Johari had made a decision on the matter, but did not disclose the outcome.

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