An opposition assemblyman lightened up proceedings at the Penang assembly today when he put a Pakatan state executive councillor on the spot for not practising what he preached.

penang state assembly 181108 jasmin mohamed Jasmin Mohamed ( left ) (Umno - Sungai Dua) ticked off Phee Boon Poh (DAP - Sungai Puyu) for not compelling the state government to include Barisan Nasional elected representatives in the various district development councils in the state, something Phee had actively preached for in the previous assembly term.

The Umno opposition man chided Phee for preaching one thing during his tenure as state opposition leader (2004 - 08) and practicing something else after becoming part of the state administration after the March 8 general election.

He rapped Phee, who is in charge of the Health, Welfare and Caring Society portfolio, for keeping mum over the Pakatan Rakyat government's alleged excluding of opposition members from the councils when he had previously kicked up a fuss when the BN government did the same.

"Why did YB Sungai Puyu fail to compel the state government to include Umno assemblymen in the councils?" Jasmin asked the House when debating the state's 2009 Budget tabled by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (DAP - Sungai Dua).

phee boon poh 140708 Phee ( right ) instantly stood up and attempted to reply, but Jasmin told the state executive councillor to observe the House rules and seek his permission before speaking.

This irked Phee, who walked out of the House, while making a gesture indicating that Jasmin was out of his mind. This invoked laughter in the House.

District development councils are important working groups to outline and implement various people-orientated programmes in respective districts.

Two schooling systems

Earlier Jasmin, who is fast gaining a reputation as a lively opposition orator, got involved in an argument with government backbenchers when he slammed the state government for not allocating funds for national schools under the budget.

State executive councillor Wong Hon Wai (DAP - Air Itam) rebuked Jasmin for suggesting that the state government was discriminative, and explained that funds were set aside for vernacular schools because they were the ones usually in need of money.

"Unlike national schools, these schools don't get regular federal funds to improve their facilities, amenities and utilities," said Wong, who is in charge of the Town and Country Planning, and Housing portfolios.

He cited Tamil primary schools such as SRJK Rajaji and SRJK Azad in Bukit Bendera as examples of cash-strapped schools and chided the federal government for implementing two schooling systems in the country.

"On one hand, the BN federal government fully finances national schools, while on the other, it hardly supports non-national schools," Wong told the House. He also invited Jasmin to visit the schools to experience first-hand their deplorable conditions.

"You (Jasmin) should visit to assess by yourself the deplorable state of vernacular schools in this country," he said, adding that the Pakatan government was committed to rectifying the problem.

In the budget, the state government set aside RM8.5 million for 172 capital-aided schools, including RM4.5 million for 124 Chinese and missionary schools, RM1.5 million each for 28 Tamil and 15 religious schools, and a million for five private secondary schools.

Vernacular schools marginalised

Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P Ramasamy (DAP - Prai) told the House that the state government policy was motivated by the fact that the federal government marginalised capital-aided schools, unlike national schools which received full assistance from the government.

penang land scam 290708 p ramasamy "The Pakatan government is not marginalising national schools, but assisting those marginalised by BN," said Ramasamy.

In the midst of these arguments, Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain rebuked backbencher RS Nethaji Rayer (DAP - Seri Delima) for frequently referring to the House standing orders to stop the opposition from speaking up.

Rayer had referred to the orders to remind Jasmin to retract his accusation that the "Pakatan government was cruel" for marginalising Umno elected representatives in distribution of constituency allocations.

"I understand that House rules shall be observed by all, but that we should not be too rigid in application. Otherwise no one can voice out opinions and views," said Abdul Halim.

"We shall only enforce the rules we deem fit and appropriate."