MAYHEM IN SELANGOR SITTING: UMNO REPS SHOUT AT TENG AFTER ‘BODOH’ INSULT

THE sitting at the Selangor state assembly turned chaotic following a series of heated arguments involving assemblymen from both sides of the political divide.

A shouting match ensued for about 15 minutes over the use of the word bodoh (stupid) while debating the Selangor state budget’s development proposal.

The argument started when Datuk Halimaton Saadiah Bohan (BN-Kota Damansara) questioned the standard operating procedures for the disposal of damaged vehicles abandoned at residential areas in various locations in the state.

Before she could finish her sentence, senior exco member Datuk Teng Chang Khim (DAP-Sungai Pinang) interjected and raised the Standing Order saying that the topic was not related to the development budget proposal by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali earlier.

 Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Razak (BN-Permatang) then asked Teng which rule of the Standing Order (SO) he was citing.

Datuk Mat Nadzari Dahalan (BN-Batang Kali) defended the issue, saying that Halimaton’s question was related to development because more land would be required to keep the abandoned vehicles if they were not properly disposed of.

However, Teng pointed out he acted based on the order and insisted that the question was not related to the development budget.

After Speaker Hannah Yeoh asked Halimaton to continue while reminding her to speak according to the topic, the latter said she was not done with her debate’s opening and that the impatience shown by an exco member had distracted her.

Teng stood up again saying that her introduction was already off-topic.

Several Barisan leaders stood up in Halimaton’s defence and questioned the reason behind Teng’s impatience even before she could finish asking her question.

Teng then replied that “it was difficult to talk to stupid people” (…dengan orang bodoh susah nak cakap ni).

A war of words then ensued with Barisan assemblymen chiding Teng’s insensitive behaviour and Yeoh ordering Teng to retract his remark.

However, Teng said that he was not referring directly at anyone in the House, and it led to another round of shouts between assemblymen from both sides.

Sulaiman then quoted Rule 36(6) of the SO and demanded that Teng retracted his remark, to which Yeoh told Teng to explain if his remark was referring to anyone.

Teng then said that he disagreed with citing the particular SO on him as he did not impute improper motives on another member of the House.

Another round of shouting match followed and Yeoh then adjourned the sitting to after Friday prayers.

– ANN