Commotion in Penang assembly over Saifuddin Nasution absence

 

A commotion broke out for almost 10 minutes during the Penang state legislative assembly sitting today following a verbal exchange among a few members of the house over the absence of Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Zulkifli Ibrahim (Bersatu-Sungai Acheh) had stood up and asked speaker Law Choo Kiang on Saifuddin's absence from the house before the sitting proceeded with the winding-up session.

That question then prompted Dr Afif Bahardin (Bersatu-Seberang Jaya) to stand and read out the Standing Order on the requirement for members of the house to inform the secretary if they could not attend the sitting.

“I notice that Pantai Jerejak’s seat is empty since the first day of the sitting. Previously, there was a plan to table a motion on assemblypersons vacating seats, now we have the seat but no assemblyperson. What is happening? This is a disrespect to the house,” Afif said.

He also accused Saifuddin of receiving “gaji buta” (getting paid for not doing any work) by not attending the sitting.

This then led to an exchange of words among several Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons who stood up and demanded Afif to retract his "gaji buta" accusation.

State local government and housing committee chair Jagdeep Singh Deo was also heard raising his voice in the house when asking all those involved in the verbal exchange to sit as he could not give his winding-up speech due to the commotion.

Law Choo Kiang (left) and Dr Afif Bahardin.

At this juncture, the speaker asked the members of the house to calm down and take their seats.

Law also told the house that he was not informed on Saifuddin's whereabouts, but said that the Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson, who is the PKR secretary-general and the Kulim-Bandar Bharu MP, may attend the sitting later.

- Bernama