A heated argument erupted in the Penang state assembly today between two opposing state assemblypersons over the issue of elected representatives who crossed over to other parties and the question of whether they had been bribed by Umno to do so.

The verbal sparring began when Seri Delima (DAP) assemblyperson NONE RSN Rayer stood up while the house was debating the Governor’s speech and asked if former deputy chief minister (I) Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin had received cash from Umno to settle a government car loan amounting to RM109,000.

"I want to ask about the ‘frogs’, like Fairus, has he been paid off by Umno as he is now able to settle his loan with cash for a Mercedez Benz?" asked Rayer ( right ).

Before the lawyer could wrap up his question, Permatang Berangan (Umno) assemblyperson Shahabuddin Yahya shot back, asking him to refrain from mentioning Fairus’ name as the former Penanti assemblyperson was not present in the Dewan.

A shouting match then ensued between both of them with Rayer continuing to demand answers to his queries about ‘the frog’.

Shahabuddin demanded that Rayer withdraw his statement about Fairus.

"Don’t accuse, prove it. I challenge you to repeat what you just said outside (the House)," shouted Shahabuddin.

After the Dewan adjourned, Shahabuddin told reporters that Rayer should have withdrawn his statement as that was the ‘polite and responsible’ thing to do.

Cleared loan with cash

Rayer was referring to the recent move by Fairus to settle a Penang government loan he took to purchase a Mercedes-Benz luxury car. The loan was settled when he deposited cash into the state treasury account, an amount enough to cover the loan plus interest.

lim guan eng koh tsu koon penang land scandal issue 220409 fairus khairuddin Fairus ( left ) was elected Penanti assemblyperson in Penang on a PKR ticket during the March 8, 2008 general election.

He was then appointed deputy chief minister (I) but quit this position as well as that of Penanti rep on April 16 last year following allegations of graft which were subsequently dismissed by the MACC.

Apart from being DCM I, he was also the Penang state executive councillor for entrepreneur and cooperative development and for information and community relations.

Fairus had submitted his membership forms to Umno two weeks after the MACC cleared him of graft and was officially accepted into the party on Feb 28 at a function in Kuala Lumpur attended by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.