Umno assemblyperson Roslan Saidin is upset that the Penang legislative assembly is keeping mum on the Rights and Privileges Committee’s decision on his alleged “racist doctors” remark.

Roslan questioned why  a state government which often boasts of “efficiency, transparency and accountability”, cannot reveal the decision of the committee in the House today.

“Why is it when it is related to me they cannot do what they often boast of? I was given the mandate by the people to do my work in the Dewan.

“The elections which saw me elected is not a game that can be taken easily,” he lamented during a press conference at the Opposition Leader’s office in the August House today.

On Dec 11, the state assembly decided to refer Roslan to the committee for disciplinary action over his refusal to apologise over his alleged “racist doctors” claim.

He made the alleged claim in July last year when he accused three Chinese Malaysian doctors - two from Seberang Jaya and another from Kepala Batas - of being racist for allegedly mistreating six patients.

He blamed the alleged doctors’ attitude to the drop in support towards the BN from the Chinese community during the 13th general election on May 5, last year.

Roslan’s allegations rocked the state government which criticised him heavily for his alleged “racist remark”.

Health Minister S Subramaniam, however, said it did not detect any elements of racism in the doctors’ treatment, citing instead, poor communication skills and incompetence for their behaviour.

Roslan’s colleague, Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhammad Farid Muhammad Saad, also criticised speaker Law Choo Kiang for delaying the matter.

“It’s been two months (that the committee has met and came up with the decision. Don’t tell me the report cannot be completed by this time,” said Muhammad Farid.

Joining the chorus to condemn Law was Sungai Acheh assemblyperson Mahmud Zakari who expressed disappointed at the former, saying, “Iit appears as if he has something to hide.”

“The speaker said the decision has been made but he did not have time to bring it here (state assembly). That’s just an excuse,” Mahmud alleged.

“We have doubts now, it is as if there are hidden hands which will interfere in the matter, strange but it may be true,” he added.

Speaker: I must review details of the report

Earlier inside the House, Law said he must review details of the report and decision before presenting it to the assemblypersons.

“We will present it at the next sitting,” said Law, who is also Bukit Tambun assemblyperson.

His response did not go down well with Umno assemblypersons who described the move as “justice delayed is justice denied”.

State Opposition leader Jahara Hamid said the decision should be revealed soon and that the House must comply with “rule of law” in its actions.

However, Jagdeep Singh, the state executive councillor for housing, town and country planning, urged all to respect the speaker for his decision to present the Rights and Privileges Committee’s report only in the next sitting.

“Just as there is a saying that justice delayed is justice denied, there is also a saying that justice hurried is justice buried,” Jagdeep quipped.

“So, please respect the speaker who has decided to review the report in detail before presenting it here,” added the Dato Keramat assemblyperson.

The first meeting of the second term of the 13th state assembly opened today, and will proceed for a week.