The BN assemblypersons walked out of the state legislative assembly today when the House started to table two motions, including the one to condemn the marrying of victims to their rapists.

State opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Telok Ayer Tawar) said “since our motions were rejected, we will not participate in this session”.

Accompanied by four assemblypersons, Jahara then left the Dewan, which is in its last day. The next session will be in November.

They were sore because their motion to seek the resignation of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and civil servants to quit or leave their posts pending their corruption cases in court were rejected by speaker Law Choo Kiang (PKR-Bukit Tambun).

State executive councillor Chong Eng (DAP-Padang Lalang) then tabled the motion to strongly condemn the proposal to marry victims to their rapists in order to address sexual crimes against children.

“All assemblypersons must make an effort to protect their children from all violence especially sexual aggression,” Chong Eng said.

The motion came about after MP Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) suggested that victims marry their rapists to address social problems.

He gained world-wide criticisms for his remarks, which he has since claimed was twisted by the media, saying the reports bordered on “fake news”.

Norlela Ariffin (PKR-Penanti), Lim Siew Khim (DAP-Sungai Pinang) and A Thanasekaran (DAP-Bagan Dalam) supported the motion.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy tabled the motion on the appointment of members of the Appeals Boards under the 2010 Freedom of Information Enactment.

Members are appointed for a two-year term, from June 1 to May 31, 2019. The board, among other things, will review the appeal by Penang Gerakan acting youth chief Jason Loo to review documents related to several reclamation exercise in the state.

The Appeals Board members are Wong Chiang Kiat (chairperson), Mokhtar Mohd Jait (deputy chairperson), and six board members including Ajit Singh Jessy, Syed Jaafar Syed Ali, Murelidaran M Navaratnam, Agatha Foo Tet Sin, Muniandy Kannyappan and Regina Amalorpava Aboorvasamy.

This session of the state legislative assembly which started on Monday, also saw the passing of three laws including the Penang Loans (Bank and Other Financial Sources) Enactment 2017, Penang Heritage (amendments) Enactment 2017, and Penang Stadium and Open Area Corporation Enactment 2017.