The Penang state assembly speaker today ejected DAP's Datuk Keramat assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo for calling Barisan Nasional ‘robbers' of Kampung Buah Pala.

NONE Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain, from PKR, later suspended Jagdeep for the rest of the morning session.

This is the first time a Pakatan elected representative has been suspended in an assembly which they control.

"I want the Datuk Keramat Yang Berhormat to retract your statement or I will have to ask you to leave the assembly," Abdul Halim had told Jagdeep, reported Bernama .

Jagdeep however refused to retract his statement, claiming he had not used it on any individual, in the assembly.

The standoff between the speaker and the elected representative unfolded when the latter sought clarification from Penang Deputy Chief Minister 11 P Ramasamy on the Kampung Buah Pala issue.

"The former state government had robbed Kg Buah Pala and 'he' is here," Jagdeep had said.

State government under trouble

Penang opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim (BN-Penaga), who was not satisfied with Jagdeep's statement, urged Abdul Halim to request Jagdeep to retract his statement.

Jagdeep, son of DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, later left the assembly after enquiring the duration of his suspension, to which Abdul Halim said the suspension was until the end of the morning session.

Later at the lobby, Jagdeep told journalists that he was correct in making the allegation.

He stressed that he had not singled out any person but was only referring to the previous BN which decided to alienate the village land on a 50 percent discounted price.

NONE He was back in the assembly for the afternoon session.

The DAP-led Pakatan state government is presently under fire for being unable to solve the plight of Kampung Buah Pala villagers who are facing imminent eviction.

Their village has been sold off for development by the previous BN state government.

Jagdeep's brother, Puchong member of parliament Gobind Singh Deo, is also presently serving a 12-month suspension from Parliament, for calling the prime minister a ‘murderer'.