Penang speaker loses cool over 'disrupting' reps

Penang state assembly legislative speaker Abdul Halim Hussein finally put his foot down and warned state representatives to behave themselves during the House proceedings.

Abdul Halim said he was giving a final warning, after which he would kick out any assemblypersons who did not comply with House rules if they were found disrupting the proceedings.

He conceded that he has reached the limits of his patience with some state representatives who behaved rudely in the House, like refusing to asked for permission before butting into another assemblyperson’s speech.

He was visibly annoyed over the actions of some assemblypersons who traded barbs over the alleged demolition of a Hindu temple in Prai.

Abdul Halim said many assemblypersons took advantage of his flexibility as a speaker during the four-and-a-half years that the House has convened under the Pakatan Rakyat administration.

“The assemblypersons should be given the chance to debate and reply to questions asked. Others should not interrupt without asking for permission,” he told reporters at a press conference.

“I am giving a warning to those who wish to interrupt the proceedings, that I will ask them to leave the Dewan if they countinue with their action,” added Abdul Halim, who is also state PKR vice-chief.

“Those who are asked to reply should also do it in a direct manner and do not beat around the bush and frustrate those who asked the questions,” stressed the PKR Balik Pulau chief.

Speaker issues warning

Abdul Halim said the warning applied to all assemblypersons from BN or Pakatan, saying he was disappointed that despite several warnings, his advice had fallen on deaf ears.

He was referring to an incident in the Dewan when acting opposition leader Hilmi Yahya was asked to explain when the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) or Penang Port Commission (PPC) would reconstruct a temple which was demolished in Prai early this year.

Hilmi, who is PPSB chairperson, and PPC chief-cum-MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek have been blamed for the demolition of a 40-year-old shrine at the Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal in the Prai Industrial Area.

When he was asked the question by A Thanasekaran (DAP-Bagan Dalam), Hilmi said he would respond to the matter at the end of his speech.

Hilmi’s response did not go down well with RSN Rayer (DAP-Seri Delima) who insisted that he explain the issue straightaway.

A few petty exchanges then took place between Rayer and several Umno assemblypersons, who insisted that Hilmi would clarify the matter at the end of his session.

“Just tell us when the temple would be built,” thundered Rayer, a lawyer by profession.

This is when Abdul Halim cut in to tick him off for not allowing Hilmi to finish his debate session.

Rayer is well-known for disrupting the proceedings in the House, at times leading the Dewan into mayhem for his outbursts.

“Enough. It’s been five years already and this kind of behaviour is shameful. Let the Teluk Bahang assemblyperson debate and clarify his statement,” said Abdul Halim sternly.