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©The
Sun (Used by permission)
by Himanshu Bhatt and Opalyn Mok at the Penang State Assembly
PENANG (July 22, 2008) : State Opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim (BN-Penaga) today
raised the ire of backbenchers and state executive councillors in the Penang
State Assembly when he chose to use the word menyeleweng (embezzle) to
describe the state government's move to waive summonses issued by both local
councils here after taking over the state administration.
"The state government keeps talking about cutting costs, flying economy and
cutting down wastage but it has menyeleweng RM30 million just like that
so that all are happy," he said.
He had, earlier, listed out the total summonses waived by the Penang Island
Municipal Council (MPPP) at 180,000 cases amounting to RM4.4 million for parking
offences and 351,000 cases amounting to RM10.5 million issued to hawkers and
petty traders.
The total summonses waived by the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) were
581,670 cases amounting to RM14.5 million for parking offences and 2,360 cases
amounting to RM0.6 million issued to hawkers and petty traders.
Penang Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh
(DAP-Sungai Puyu) stood up and asked Azhar to explain what he meant by
menyeleweng RM30 million.
"This RM30 million in summonses should have been collected from the people but
it was not collected, so this is menyeleweng. RM30 million was gone and that's
menyeleweng," Azhar replied.
Phee stood up again and said Azhar should refer to a dictionary so that he knows
the meaning of menyeleweng.
"Can he understand the meaning of menyeleweng? This is a wild accusation
that the state had menyeleweng RM30 million when the state government did
not take even a single sen," he said.
At this juncture, Speaker Abd Halim Hussain concurred by saying:
"So, this is not menyeleweng."
Azhar then stood up and changed his tune by stating that what he had meant was
that the state government had menyeleweng from its responsibilities.
"The state government is supposed to collect the summonses but it did not do
so," he said.
A.Tanasekharan (DAP-Bagan Dalam) then interjected that the RM30 million was the
people's money and it was inside the people's pockets.
"We didn't take the people's money. We are not like the Barisan Nasional (BN)
who like to say it is the people's money but they keep it and do not use it for
the people's benefit," he said.
Shabudin Yahya (BN-Permatang Berangan) jumped into the fray to state that there
is an Act to enable the state government to collect the summonses.
"The people will be the ones suffering because this money could have been used
for their benefit," he said, adding that the state government kept saying it has
no funds but it did not want to collect this RM30 million.
Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat) interjected and pointed at the Petronas
profit that the BN government had but the funds did not go to the people.
"Why weren't part of the profits channeled to Penang?" he said, and asked Azhar
to withdraw his menyeleweng accusation.
"Azhar asked where the RM30 million had gone, implying that the state government
took the sum when we didn't. He should withdraw his statement," he said, adding
that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has the right to give amnesty to the people to
waive their summonses.
Phee agreed with Jagdeep and demanded Azhar to withdraw his statement as it was
a baseless accusation.
What followed was more exchange of words between Shabudin, Phee, Azhar, Datuk
Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (BN-Telok Bahang), Datuk Jasmin Mohamed (BN-Sungai Dua,
Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P.Ramasamy (DAP-Perai) and even Lim (DAP-Air
Putih).
Azhar denied that he said the state government had menyeleweng RM30
million but that the state had shirked its responsibilities.
Jagdeep then raised the Point of Order 13 (c) which prohibits them from uttering
words that hurt the feelings of others in the state assembly.
Lim said the state government did not even take a single sen, what more RM30
million from the people and asked for Azhar to withdraw his statement.
Finally, Abd Halim interrupted to say that he will make a decision but again the
backbenchers and Opposition started arguing until the Speaker silenced them all
by raising Point of Order 28 where all assemblymen must be seated when the
Speaker is talking.
"My decision is that menyeleweng is not a suitable word to be used in
here so stop using it and stop discussing this matter," he said before
instructing Azhar to continue with his debate.
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