Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen (Kota Sentosa) was today suspended from attending the current state assembly sitting for his remarks published in two Chinese dailies yesterday.

Speaker Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar made the ruling under Section 14 and 24(1) of the State Legislative Assembly (Privileges and Powers) Ordinance 2007 after 36 assemblymen supported the suspension while two from DAP voted against it.

Earlier, when tabling the notice of motion, state Second Finance Minister Wong Soon Koh said Chong was charged with contempt under Section 24 (2)(n)(iii) of the State Legislative Assembly (Privileges and Powers) Ordinance 2007 when he committed the offence on Monday.

chong chieng jen interview 141108 01 Wong said Chong ( left ) had made the remarks outside the assembly proceeding that "80 percent of the development fund is controlled by one person, minister of finance" published in See Hua Daily News and "Sarawak budgetary allocation - 80 percent at the disposal of one person, minister of finance" in Sin Chew Daily that would tarnish the image and affect public confidence in the assembly and the state finance minister.

He said Chong made the remarks to the media on the same day Chief Minister and state finance minister Abdul Taib Mahmud tabled the Supply (2010) Bill 2009.

Refuting Chong's accusation, Wong said based on the normal procedure, the financial allocations would be divided among the different ministries and departments with the respective financial controlling officers handling the financial matters as required under the Financial Procedure Act 1957.

"From the Hansard of the proceeding on Nov 9, 2009, the chief minister and finance minister who is also the member for Balingian, did not move a bill or motion on development expenditure whereby 80 percent of the allocation would be controlled by one person, that is, himself as the finance minister," he said.

Bringing CM into public ridicule

He said Chong's offence was serious as it would bring the assembly and its role under the state constitution to approve financial allocations for the government's expenditure, and the finance minister himself into public ridicule.

C bn supreme council mt meeting sapp sabah issue 190608 taib mahmud hief minister Taib Mahmud ( right ), a powerful figure in Sarawak, has been ruling the state for 28 years.

Wong said Chong's remarks would also erode public confidence in the management of the financial affairs of the state.

Social Development and Urbanisation Minister William Mawan, who is also Pakan assemblyman, seconded the motion.

- Bernama