Port Klang assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Abdullah and his lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun were today referred to the Selangor Assembly Rights and Privileges Committee, for allegedly committing contempt against the House.

According to the motion tabled by Ijok assemblyperson Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, the offence was allegedly committed either separately or jointly through a letter dated Mar 29 addressed to Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim.

NONE Abdul Khalid, who is also menteri besar, said that the letter contained "indecent, insolent and threatening terms".

In the letter from Hafarizam, the speaker was threatened with bankruptcy proceedings if he does not pay the legal cost of RM40,000 within seven days of receipt.

The letter was sent after the High Court on Feb 18 had, in the absence of Teng's lawyer, found that his decision to declare the Port Klang seat vacant on Jan 19 due to Badrul Hisham absenteeism for six months, was null and void .

‘Insulting the House’

The letter sent to Teng's counsel Tommy Thomas reads: "We have our client's strict instruction that the cost of RM40,000 is to be paid to the plaintiff and/or to us as solicitors for the plaintiff within seven (7) days this letter.

"We also have our client's strict instruction to proceed with the bankruptcy proceeding against your client for failure to comply with the order dated Feb 18 which was served on you on Mar 22."

According to Abdul Khalid the letter was sent pending the fixing of the hearing date for Teng's High Court application to set aside the Feb 18 decision. Teng also has an appeal pending with the Court of Appeal.

"Mr Speaker had been named in the suit not in his personal capacity, but in his capacity as the Speaker of the House.

"Such a notice with indecent, insolent and threatening terms and its intended action denotes the intention of the parties concerned to bring the House into odium, contempt or ridicule or to lower the authority of the House and thus constitute a contempt, especially since the notice was served during the sitting of this House at this juncture," he said.  

Badrul Hisham unperturbed

The menteri besar proposed that Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan become the chair of the committee in Teng's place as this matter involves the Speaker.

The motion was supported by Batu Tiga assemblyperson Rodziah Ismail and was passed by a majority voice vote.

Deputy Speaker Haniza Mohd Talha said that as a result, the Rights and Privileges Committee will deliberate on the case and present their findings to the assembly for a debate in a latter proceeding.

In an immediate response, Badrul Hisham said he was ready to be investigated.

"If they want to investigate then investigate. I, too want to know why they say I am insolent," he said, smiling.

According to his legal advisor Emelia Iszeham, who accompanied him today, the notice was sent following a court order for Teng to pay RM40,000 in legal cost and damages.

"It is normal practice to proceed with bankruptcy proceeding for amounts above RM30,000, if they are not paid within the stipulated time period of seven days," she said.

MB: Badrul's letter a threat to the state, too