Two Kedah executive councillors have been criticised for their lack of sophistication and standards after they allegedly "verbally abused" MCA-appointed senator Heng Seai Kie at a recent dinner.

NONE Kedah Wanita MCA chief Lim Bee Kau condemned the actions of Tan Chow Kang and Lim Soo Nee, who were said to have insulted Heng (left) , the women, family and community development deputy minister.

Lim claimed that the incident - which allegedly involved the use of the word ‘pig’ - took place at a public dinner organised by the Moral Uplifting Society of Padang Serai. About 2,000 people were said to be present.

"Its meaning could not have been misunderstood. As state excos, it is shameful that they resort to such lame excuses to absolve themselves," Bee Kau said in a press statement.

"As excos, their actions and attitude should be commented on by the public. Moreover, their clamoring beneath the stage and their threats to shut off the microphone is very rude."

She alleged that the duo then attempted to cover up their deed by denying it, and said this proves that "Pakatan Rakyat excos lack quality".

Bee Kau also said Kedah has been gradually implementing more hardline religious policies, and that state excos cannot ignore their responsibility to address the matter.

"Pakatan's tactics are very simple; they boast about policies which they can take credit for, but when it involves policies affecting the lives of non-Muslims they will kick the responsibility to the previous state administration," said Bee Kau.

"We have seen these tactics applied in other Pakatan states before. Is this the reason why the two state excos became overly excited... as senator Heng had exposed the painful truth about them?"

Video footage available

When contacted, Lim Soo Nee, PKR’s Kulim-Bandar Bahru assembly representative - denied that he had created a ruckus at the dinner.

He said he had merely stood up to protest Heng's speech when it turned "political" as the speakers were told not to touch on politics, it being a community dinner and not a ceramah.

When he asked the organisers to stop Heng from delving into partisan politics, they “told me to be patient and let the matter rest and I accepted that".

azlan Soo Nee (left) said speeches during such dinners are usually “neutral" in content because leaders from both sides of the political divide are present.

"So when Heng started to speak about MCA or BN politics, I protested. So did my colleague Tan, (PKR's) Sidam assemblyperson," Soo Nee said when contacted.

"It is understood that, at a Chinese community function such as this, we are prohibited from speaking about our party politics or condemning other parties."

Soo Nee maintained his denial that neither he nor Tan had mentioned the word "pig".

Heng, he claimed, may have misheard what they said or had mistaken the tone of certain words.

"We have video footage to prove that we did not say the word and did not try to create problems, but had merely protested and requested the MCA leader not to speak about her party politics," he added.