Motion To Debate Terengganu Riot Rejected

The Dewan Rakyat today rejected a motion to debate the riot in Kuala Terengganu on Saturday night in which seven people, including four policemen, were injured.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib dismissed the motion on the ground that although the issue was of public interest, it was not urgent.

"What happened was the police were quelling a riot," he said.

When tabling the motion, Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) said the Internal Security Ministry should explain why live bullets had been used against unarmed civilians.

"There are question marks over police integrity in this episode as it appeared that there was a `trigger-happy' attitude vis-a-vis civilians without giving a second thought to people's lives and public safety," he said.

Salahuddin claimed that such an incident would not have happened if police issued permits to those wishing to organise peaceful gatherings.

The riot was sparked when police instructed the crowd of hundreds at an illegal political gathering at Jalan Sultan Mahmud, close to Batu Burok in the Terengganu capital, to disperse. (Bernama)

***** Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib should be given pride of place in the Malaysia Book of Records as the prolific rejector of urgent parliamentary motions.
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