KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher was ordered to retract his words after making an offensive remark in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 4).

       When interjecting during Roslan Hashim’s (PN-Kulim Bandar Baharu) debate on the motion of thanks on the royal address, Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) engaged in a shouting match with Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut).

       In the commotion, Mohd Sany said Che Mohamad Zulkifly displayed bad behaviour and was akin to an "Orang Ulu".

       Datuk Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo) took offence and chided Mohd Sany.

       “Retract it. The current Dewan Negara president is an Orang Ulu,” Willie said.

       Deputy Speaker Alice Lau then ordered Mohd Sany to retract the remark, and he obliged.

       Orang Ulu, an ethnic community under the broad Dayak group, are a peace-loving people in the interior of Sarawak.

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       The Lun Bawang are also part of the Orang Ulu ethnic group, with prominent members including newly-minted Dewan Negara president Datuk Mutang Tagal.