Dominique Ng, the Padungan assemblyperson who was suspended by the Sarawak state legislative assembly for one year took to the streets of Kuching to distribute leaflets explaining his side of the story.

NONE In his statement that was also circulated to the media, Ng ( centre in photo ) described how he was referred to the Committee of Privileges via a Ministerial Motion dated May 19, 2009, by Bolhassan Di.

The charge was contempt of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) for having said, “this is a kangaroo court. Lets count the kangaroo, come hop, hop, hop” on May 13, 2009 during the Sarawak May 09 Session.

“In the ministerial motion I was supposed to have steadfastly refused to withdraw the words complained of, despite various opportunities!

“Nothing could be further from the truth, as I never had been given any opportunity at all. They mistake me with the circumstances of that for the member for Kota Sentosa!” the statement said.

An inquiry on the matter was subsequently conducted on Oct 20, 2009 at the DUN Complex. In attendance were speaker Mohammad Asfia together with Alfred Jabu, Awang Tengah, Lee Kim Shin, Ali Mahmud.

Animal farm

Ng told the committee he had offered to withdraw the offensive statement, but was not given the opportunity.

He said he was willing to withdraw on the condition that the others in the House withdrew their offensive statements referring to various animals such as “dog”, “cornered rat” and “monkeys”.

Ng also complained to the committee that Saribas member called him “a gangster, fool, hooligan, and had even read from a prepared text to attack me, but nothing ever happened to him.

“I also did withdraw the words complained of, and did made an apology at the first ... opportunity, which was at the Committee Hearing, at the end of my Statement,” said Ng.

The Padungan assemblyperson said he was provoked to utter the offending words during a motion to suspend Wong Ho Leng (DAP-Bukit Assek) for 12 months.

“At that time the BN was steamrolling the motion through, without giving Ho Leng a chance to properly defend himself! They did suspend him for 12 months as a result,” said Ng.

Ng concluded that in the end, his charge was even confused, proving that the Dewan was indeed as he originally described it.

Mixup of charges

“I was charged under Standing Order 32(4) of the DUN, but I was found guilty of an offence under SO 32 (6)! They again made the mistake with that of the offence of YB Chong who was suspended on the same day.

“It’s like charging someone for theft and finding him guilty of cheating! This is totally illegal, and would not hold up in a court of law! By still ramming through the motion recommending my suspension despite this illegality, the DUN has proven itself to be a ‘“kangaroo court’“said Ng.

Ng is one of two opposition assemblypersons to be suspended this week, the other being Chong Jen Jien (DAP-Bandar Kuching). Maradong state assemblyperson Ting Tze Fui also faces suspension in what appears to be a flood of opposition suspensions following BN's defeat in the Sibu by-election.