Fury in Penang assembly as exco blasts fellow party rep over ‘leaked’ reply

 Exco member Lim Siew Khim lashes out at assemblyman Ong Ah Teong for citing an answer she says was never officially given.

State exco member Lim Siew Khim (left) said Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong’s remarks were based on an incomplete answer prematurely uploaded to the assembly’s portal.

GEORGE TOWN:

 A Penang executive councillor tore into a fellow DAP backbencher after the latter accused her of dodging a question on the operations of the state’s homeless shelter, sparking a rare open clash at the state assembly.

State social development and welfare committee chairman Lim Siew Khim lambasted Ong Ah Teong (PH-Batu Lanchang) for citing an official response, which she said had not yet been formally answered in the assembly.

The response pertained to Ong’s oral question on the operations and costs of the Jalan CY Choy homeless transit centre. He had brought up this subject to raise concerns over financial transparency and staffing expenses.

He said the centre’s RM598,610 annual operating cost was excessive, with over 67% spent only on the salaries for its seven staff.

However, Lim said Ong’s remarks were based on an incomplete answer prematurely uploaded to the assemblyman’s portal, which she had not yet had the opportunity to address.

She accused Ong of misleading the assembly and going against protocol.

Oral answers are only shared publicly and with the assemblyman posing the question after being read out in the assembly to make sure everyone obtains the information at the same time and in the right order.

“This is about ethics as a wakil rakyat. You have been here for two terms. The question has not reached its turn, yet YB Batu Lanchang cited a half-complete answer to accuse me of failing to respond. That’s a serious allegation,” Lim said.

She also rejected Ong’s claim that the centre had received public or NGO cash donations.

“The centre only accepts donations in kind, like clothes and food. If there’s any evidence otherwise, submit a formal report. If not, withdraw your statement,” she said.

When Ong tried to explain that he had based his remarks on the official reply from her via Adun.net, the assembly’s internal portal, Lim raised her voice and repeatedly told him to sit down.

The confrontation prompted speaker Law Choo Kiang to step in, saying the prematurely uploaded answer was due to a clerical error by the assembly secretariat, which he said he “deeply regrets”.

“There was an unintentional error by our secretariat. Normally, replies are only uploaded (to Adun.net) after being formally answered.

“In this case, all oral answers were prematurely uploaded to the portal,” he said.

Law said the system error had since been rectified and thanked both lawmakers for flagging the issue.

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow also weighed in, backing Lim and calling on the speaker to order a full probe into the error. He said it was only right for Ong to apologise.

Fellow executive councillor Daniel Gooi rose on a point of order, saying Ong should not only apologise but also retract his remarks as they amounted to accusing another member of acting in bad faith.

Ong later apologised and withdrew his comments, saying he did not wish to further disrupt the sitting. - FMT