KUALA LUMPUR: A visiting delegation from the European Union Parliament watched as a few MPs engaged in "monkey business" in the parliament sitting on Wednesday.

It started when Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) criticised Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk M. Kayveas for not providing an appropriate answer to a question by Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) regarding the country's oldest case which had yet to be dispensed with.

"Justice delayed is justice denied ... " began Kayveas, but Lim interjected and shouted: "If you do not know, just say you do not know."

Kayveas, not known to take such criticisms lightly, retorted that Lim was behaving like a monkey (macam monyet).

"There's a monkey in front and there's also a monkey at the back. The DAP is equally responsible for such delays because many from their ranks are also practising lawyers," Kayveas said.

He alleged that lawyers from the Opposition had taken a lot of cases and payments but do not attend court hearings, leading to the delays.

"In the court they say they need to attend Parliament and ask for postponements. In Parliament they say they are unable to attend, giving the excuse that they are attending court cases," he said.

An argument involving Kayveas, Lim and Fong followed, over the macam monyet remark.

The exchange, which took place during the question-and- answer session, became heated, and Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib had a tough time trying to calm the MPs down.

"Take it (the remark) back," Lim shouted at Kayveas. "It's becoming like a circus performance before the European Union (Parliamentarians)."

"Yes, more like a Ipoh Timur circus," chipped in Datuk Badruddin Amirulddin (BN-Jerai).

Fong got up, turned to the speaker and said: "It's not an appropriate behaviour by the deputy minister. Kayveas cannot use such words or repeat them.

"If the speaker does not ask him to take it back, then he is supporting his behaviour. Such words should not be used. It's as if the BN is immune."

Ramli asked Kayveas to retract the remark, but Kayveas refused to do it although he offered an apology.

"I will not withdraw the statement," he said, and stood his ground.

Fong said an apology was not sufficient and the deputy minister should be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee for unparliamentary behaviour.

She also questioned Ramli on the position he was taking on the matter.

Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) then stood up and told Fong to be careful about her statement relating to the speaker's chair.

Datuk Mohamed Abdul Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) joined in the fray and said the speaker knew what he was doing and his position should not be questioned.

Badruddin then proposed that Fong be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee, and was seconded by Raja Ahmad.

Ramli, appearing to have had enough of the argument, then told Kayveas to withdraw his statement.

"Okay, I will withdraw my statement that they are behaving like monkeys. They are not behaving like monkeys," Kayveas said.