PAS lawmaker Ahmad Marzuk Shaary defended his "pondan" remark, explaining that he felt the finance minister did not dare to respond to his question.

He said he wanted to show evidence that bumiputera contractors were forced to compete with larger contractors controlling the supply of construction equipment.

Ahmad claimed that he had asked Lim to give him an opportunity to substantiate his statement so that he could retract his "pondan" remark.