Bandar Klang state assembly person Teng Chang Khim was suspended for a day from the Selangor state assembly sitting for defying an order to stand down from an argument during a debate on the redelineation of state constituencies.

The suspension was moved this morning by Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Mohd Toyo after Teng objected to Speaker Onn Ismail's decision to allow a state exco member to speak during the debate, in response to points raised by Teng.

Teng said the Speaker had allowed Ching Toh Eng (BN-Kuala Kubu Baru) to speak even though the Standing Order requires state government representatives to reply only during the winding-up speech at the end of debate.

"If he wants to reply to what I have said, he should do it during the winding-up speech and not take up time allocated for the debate. Alternatively, he could have asked for clarification while I was still speaking," Teng said when contacted.

Teng alleged that the Speaker's action represented an act of special privilege for Ching.

"I objected and said that it was an abuse of power for the Speaker to allow Ching's speech."

Consequent to his refusal to stand down from his position, Teng said he was ordered to leave the chamber by Onn, who cited Standing Order Rule 44(2) which allows the Speaker to order any member of the state assembly to leave the house if they cause a disturbance to the proceedings.

"I resisted and the Speaker threatened to call the police to remove me. He then ordered the Menteri Besar ( photo ) to move a motion under section 44(3) to suspend me for a day. The motion was supported by state exco member Tang See Hang," he added.

Six new seats

A defiant Teng said he will be delivering a statement to the House tomorrow objecting to the suspension order.

He said a subsequent order during the afternoon sitting of the state assembly justified his stand on the procedural rules.

"I was vindicated when another state exco member was stopped from delivering a speech while the debate was in progress," he claimed.

The state assembly was debating the Composition of Elected Members of the Selangor Legislative Assembly (Amendment) Enactment 2003 which relates to the increase in the number of state seats as recommended by the Election Commission during a nationwide redelineation exercise last year.

The Election Commission had proposed that the number of state seats be increased from 48 to 56.

During the debate, Teng had claimed that the commission had failed to act independently by rejecting several of his proposals, while accepting suggestions from BN leaders.