Ruckus in Dewan Rakyat over use of Terengganu dialect term 'mambar'

New Straits Times

20 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR: A heated exchange erupted in the Dewan Rakyat today over the use of the Terengganu dialect word 'mambar' by an opposition lawmaker to describe six Bersatu members of parliament (MPs) who had pledged support for the government.
The incident began after Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN–Hulu Terengganu) asked Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to clarify the status of the six MPs, and whether they should be considered part of the government or the opposition. Rosol described the position of the six MPs as 'mambar,' a term he said refers to something not solid or "in between".
RSN Rayer (PH–Jelutong) then raised a point of order, calling the term inappropriate and disrespectful. Rosol responded by saying, "Even that is sensitive to you."
Chong Zhemin (PH–Kampar) also raised an objection, calling on Rosol to retract his statement. "Everyone understands it is a subtle insult. It is unparliamentary," Chong said.
Johari, unfamiliar with the term, said he could not make a definitive ruling. "I do not even know what it means, so I cannot consider it unparliamentary," he said, before asking Rosol to avoid using the word again to prevent confusion.
The matter escalated further when Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN–Kota Baru) interjected, suggesting the term may have different meanings depending on the region. The debate then devolved into a shouting match between Rayer, Takiyuddin, and Radzi Jidin (PN–Putrajaya), which included a reference to an alleged insult to Islam by Takiyuddin.
Johari ruled that while the term might be harmless in some regions, its meaning is not universally understood. "Everyone, please be seated. The term may have different meanings depending on the state. In Kedah, for instance, it can mean beautiful, great, or excellent," he said, concluding that the term should be avoided to prevent confusion.