KUALA LUMPUR: An uproar broke out again in the Dewan Rakyat today after opposition Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim questioned why the Ringgit had dropped to RM4.40 against the dollar if the country's economy is indeed strong.
Shahidan (PN-Arau) cited a "research bank" which projected the Ringgit to slip to RM4.50 against the US dollar while Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan was winding up the 2025 Budget.
"Amir and (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Anwar ( Ibrahim) issued a statement saying how many decades it's been, this is the first time the value has risen so high.
"I saw on Tiktok, you said this means our economy is getting stronger. I want to ask, why did our currency go down to 4.32 just three days later? I haven't checked yet, but three days ago I saw it at 4.40, and it fell. Why did our currency drop from 4.10 to nearly 4.40?
"Today, I called the money changer but couldn't get through, but I feel like the currency has dropped. And based on the research bank, this currency might fall to 4.50.
"I want to ask, if the economy is strong, why is our currency falling?" he said.
To this, Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) then stood citing Standing Order 36(12) on the basis that it would confuse the parliament and questioned which research bank.
Shahidan then responded, "Shut up!"
Chong attempted to question Shahidan again but was then muted.
Deputy Speaker Alice Lau, who was presiding over the session, told MPs to submit a motion to the minister if there are issues and not to waste his allocated time to finish his winding-up session.
Chong attempted to ask again, but his question was met with snarky comments from opposition MPs, including some who asked if he was the Finance Minister II.
"Kampar please ask in TikTok."
"Is Kampar a minister? Let the minister answer."
Lau later told Shahidan and Chong that they were welcome to exit the hall if they continued bickering.