‘Shut up… you lawyer buruk’

A ranting Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, caused an uproar in the Sarawak State Assembly today, leaving Speaker Asfiah Awang Nassar helpess.

KUCHING: An uproar in the State Legislative Assembly sitting earlier today saw Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu go into a fit of rage screaming “shut up, shut up… you are lawyer buruk” at opposition leader and Bukit Assek assemblyman Wong Ho Leng.

For 10 minutes, the August House was a virtual ‘fish market’ as Jabu went on a verbal rampage attacking the opposition, accusing them of suppressing and oppressing natives.

The sudden outburst, which shocked the assembly, came about when Wong stood up to object to Jabu’s accusation of DAP, whilst answering a supplementary question from Joseph Mauh (Tamin), on what programmes the governemnt had to help the poor and the needy apart from the ‘E-Kasih’.

Towards the end of his explaination Jabu said: “I would like to remind especially DAP who have been suppressing and oppressing the opportunities of poverty eradication. You throw away your selfish ideas …”

At this point Wong stood up to seek clarification and was told by Jabu to “shut up you, shut up, shut up, shut up, you sit down…I know better than you. You are lawyer buruk.”

The heated exchange went on for at least 10 minutes with Speaker Asfiah Awang Nassar having a hard time trying to bring the house into order.

Jabu ignoring Asfiah’s order went on to say: “Let it be recorded here. Every time I say, “DAP suppressed and oppressed the opportunity of NCR land owners from participating in poverty eradication program,” DAP walked out because the truth hurts …”

Venting Jabu
Jabu also took swipes at another DAP assemblyman Wong Hua Seh (Repok), acussing him of “suppressing and oppressing” the native language.

His attack on Hua Seh came about because the latter had asked that pesticides and insecticides be labelled in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese.

To which Jabu vented: “Tuan Speaker, poverty eradication is priority and I would like to repeat (that) I am the Minister of Rural Development, I am coming from one of the Dayak communities and I know that the Dayak communities are still at the disadvantaged, living in rural areas….”

All this while, the house only heard what Jabu said and the replies from the opposition were not heard as their microphones were switched off.

The drama only stopped when the speaker threatened to adjourn the meeting and told Jabu to wind up his answer.