KUALA LUMPUR: Pendang member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Awang Hashim has denied claims that he challenged and invited another MP to a fistfight outside Parliament last week.

Awang, who was suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for 10 days over the incident, said he was merely warning Jelutong MP RSN Rayer to be careful so as not to be attacked outside Parliament.

"The allegation that I invited him to fight is untrue. The gesture (action) was recorded but it did not reflect my actual intention.

"I know very well the consequences of challenging someone to fight outside Parliament.

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"What I meant was to remind the concerned MP not to end up being punched by others outside Parliament for raising religious issues while making a fist gesture," he told BH today.

Awang, who is also a member of PAS' Central Leadership Committee, said he accepted the suspension but regretted not being given the opportunity to defend himself and clarify the actual circumstances behind the footage of him making a punching gesture as he exited the House that day.

"I was not called at all to defend myself. If that is the punishment imposed by the presiding officer and they say I am guilty, I will just accept it," he said.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul suspended Awang from the House for 10 days.

Johari had said his decision was influenced by the presence of school pupils in the public gallery at the time of the incident.