"Walkout" or "pergi minum teh": Selangor BN bungles in bid to protest "unfair" Speaker

Selangor BN is getting a reputation for being slow learners. After 4 years, they still seem unable to settle down to their roles as the opposition in the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor state.

On Tuesday, seven BN state assemblymen tried to embarrass DAP Speaker Teng Chang Khim but ended up being accused of sneaking off for a tea break, instead of staging a walkout.

"Baru dimaklum, Pembangkang Umno/BN "walkout" pagi ini, bukan pergi minum teh. Aiyo, "walkout" pun takde kordinasi, tak serentak keluar," PKR state assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong said on her Twitter.

("Just announced, the Umno-BN opposition staged a "walkout" this morning and not to take a tea break. Aiyo, "walkout" also cannot co-ordinate and didn't even leave together.")

Bungling BN heroes denounced Teng

Nonetheless, the BN group appear to be in a heroic mood, denouncing Teng for an SMS he sent to other Pakatan assemblymen, wherein he reminded them that this was the last winding-up session and should be used to talk about the Pakatan's success over the past 4 years.

Calling Teng “an embarrassment to all Speakers around the world”, they also demanded an apology but Teng refused, saying he was merely giving advice to his colleagues to raise their game.

The BN group then decided to walk out to protest what they alleged was Teng's biased conduct.

“Rightfully, the Speaker must be fair. But then, we get an SMS from him that clearly shows he is biased towards Selangor excos. We are very disappointed and feel that we’re being treated unfairly. Also, what is wrong with a little apology?” said BN assemblyman for Kuang Abdul Shukor Idrus, who called a press conference to show them Teng's text message.

Tongue lashing

But he got short shrift from the Pakatan supporters following the proceedings and even from his own BN compatriot for the fumbled "walkout".

"Teng hasn't block BN reps for raising any issues or tabling any motion either as far as I know," said one.

"Why should Teng apologize when he didn't do anything wrong. He didn't deny BN their rights which is what Pandikar Amin Mulia (the BN Speaker of the federal Parliament) does. Why can't Teng cheer on his colleagues, no matter what he is a DAP man. The important point is to make sure the rules are followed and everyone is fairly treated," Eddie Wong, a veteran PKR watcher, told Malaysia Chronicle.

The BN group also drew a surprising tongue lashing from BN compatriot, Kota Belud Member of Parliament, Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

"BN ADUNs shud not walk out of Sgor Assembly evnthough Speaker is perceived bias. Precious time whc cud be used to check Sgor govt now gone," said Abdul Rahman on Twitter.

In a sign that BN may be politicising the issue in a bid to gain sympathy for themselves and to 'fix' Teng, they refused to accept the chairmanship of the Selangor Public Accounts Committee.

Malice aforethought

The post was offered to BN assemblyman for Sungai Burong Mohd Shamsudin Lian, but he turned it down. It was then offered to PKR assemblyman for Kajang Lee Kim Sin, who initially also declined on the grounds that the post should be held by a member of the opposition. But when no BN rep would take up the post, the motion to appoint Lee was passed.

"As you can from the appointment of the PAC chairman, there is malice in the way the BN reps refused to accept the post. Why? Because by right, the PAC chairman must be from the opposition, then only can there be proper checks and balance. But at the federal level, BN has always grabbed the PAC chair, so Selangor BN has to follow the line or it will embarrass Prime Minister Najib Razak," said Eddie.

Meanwhile, DAP assemblywoman for Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh was also appointed to replace the late Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee as a member of the Selangor watchdog body Selcat.

Malaysia Chronicle