Padungan seeks reversal of Deputy Speaker’s ruling to expunge remarks linking alleged gangster to SUPP leaders

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By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, May 18: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen today tabled a private member motion in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) seeking to reverse Deputy Speaker Dato Idris Buang’s ruling that expunged parts of his earlier debate linking an alleged organised crime figure to leaders of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).

In the motion submitted pursuant to Standing Order 23(2)(p), Chong argued that the ruling made on May 14 by Idris was an affront to the very cornerstone and spirit of parliamentary democracy as it prevented elected representatives from discussing matters of public concern in the august House.

The controversy stemmed from Chong’s speech during the motion of thanks for the Sarawak Governor’s address last Thursday (May 14), where he named an individual among 21 individuals arrested and charged over alleged involvement in gangsterism and organised criminal activities.

According to Chong, Idris had ordered all references linking the individual to SUPP and its leaders to be removed from the official Hansard record.

In his motion, Chong argued that the alleged gangster’s arrest and court appearance under heavy police escort had already been extensively covered by mainstream media nationwide, including reports that the accused were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).

“The Deputy Speaker’s said Ruling to expunge my debate in relation to the matter gives the impression that this august House is condoning and endorsing such illegal activity by attempting to cover-up the matter and forbidding the discussion thereof in this august House.

“By forbidding even the mention of the names of the individual involved in the gang, the said Deputy Speaker’s said Ruling and this august House are not doing justice to the good effort of the officers of Police DiRaja Malaysia who have taken great effort to carry out the arrest, to investigate the gang and to hold these persons under SOSMA pending prosecution in Court,” he stated.

He therefore called for the Idris’ ruling to be reversed and for the expunged portions of his speech to be reinstated in the Hansard.

After reading the motion, Chong openly asked Idris to step aside from deliberating on the matter.

“As the Speaker’s ruling is the one under challenged, I do not think you are the proper person to decide on the motion.

“As such, I would ask Mr Speaker to recuse yourself and wait for Speaker (Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar) to preside over the meeting before a decision is made,” he added.

Following this, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap rose under Standing Order 32(9), arguing that Chong had crossed the line from legitimate debate into making improper allegations against other assemblymen and SUPP as a whole.

“As far as SUPP is concerned, I think you cannot impute the action of a person, two persons or three persons, whether they are from SUPP or not, and then you basically lump them all together and say ‘yes this is SUPP’.

“I am basically asking Padungan to withdraw his motion because allowing these baseless allegations into the Hansard is totally unfair to the hundreds of thousands of SUPP members,” Yap said.

In response, Idris said the motion had already been submitted and confirmed that he would recuse himself from the matter.

“This motion has now been submitted. And I am going to recuse myself over this matter.

“The YB Speaker (Asfia) who is also learned, will preside over this and you will have the chance to debate over the motion,” he said. — DayakDaily

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