From "The Sun" newspaper, Malaysia
July 10, 2007
Slaughter of animals in august place riles MPs
KUALA LUMPUR : A decision by backbenchers to slaughter six head of cattle and 10 goats in the compound of Parliament House to celebrate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad's marriage annoyed other MPs.
"I am objecting to this on two grounds. This is Parliament. How can we allow the slaughter of animals in the compound? Should this not be done in an abattoir?" M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) asked Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib just after question time.
"Morever, this slaugher of cattle is sensitive to Hindus. Surely you should have thought about this aspect before allowing it."
Ramli's response was that the animals were slaughtered for the kenduri hosted by the Backbenchers Club (BBC) to celebrate the marriage of Abdullah to Jeanne.
When Kulasegaran said he was aware of the reason but that the slaughter should not be allowed, Ramli said any similar request in the future would be looked at carefully.
"I don't see why there should be any objection to this. This is norm (slaughter animals) whenever there is a kenduri. Therefore, it is not an unusual practice," Ramli said.
Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) begged to differ. "This is an august place. We use this place for meetings. If next time, the Opposition wants to slaughter other animals then what happens?" she asked.
"Even though it is a norm by BBC, it does not mean it is correct. And it should not be continued."
Fong said non-Muslim MPs are sensitive to the religious beliefs of others that they were "even careful with the type of food they brought into the parliament building".
She said this should be reciprocated.
Ramli brought the discussion to a close by promising that the House would be careful in similar requests in the future.
Acting BNBBC chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) told reporters in the lobby of the Dewan Rakyat that the backbenchers decided on the kenduri after he was given the go-ahead by the parliament administration.
"We only did it after the House gave us permission. The place was decided by the parliament," he said.
"Where else are we supposed to do it anyway? We are members of Parliament, we are entitled to do it here," he declared.
A Hindu BNBBC committee member S.K.Devamany (BN-Cameron Highlands), met in the lobby said he did not know of the planned slaughter.
"I was not at the meeting when it was decided. By the time I came to know of it. All the arrangements were put in place."
Devamany vowed to ensure that in future it will not happen again.
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