Yong ordered out of DUN chamber

PENDING assemblywoman Violet Yong was ordered out of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) chamber on Tuesday (Oct 20) after refusing to withdraw remarks calling Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin a “political coward”.

Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar ordered her removal after ruling that the remarks made during yesterday’s proceedings were unparliamentary, insulting and humiliating.

“I asked the member for Pending to withdraw, she refused, and she repeated the word.

“So I ruled it is unparliamentary and to be expunged from the Hansard,” he said.

However, Yong continued to protest, prompting Asfia to instruct the sergeant-at-arms to remove her from the chamber.

“Biadap (Rude). You are insultingly rude,” he said while pointing towards Yong.

Earlier, Lee raised a matter of privilege under Standing Order 23(2)(p), seeking the Speaker’s ruling on Yong’s remarks.

He said the words constituted a personal insult and contravened Standing Order 32(4), which prohibits offensive and insulting language against members of the House.

The dispute began on Oct 19 when Yong accused Lee of political cowardice for criticising Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who had been suspended from the sitting on Oct 15.

Lee had criticised Chong’s call to abandon the proposed new Kuching International Airport and other major infrastructure projects due to their high costs.

Yong argued that Chong was not present to defend himself, while Lee maintained that his suspension was a collective decision backed by 62 assemblymen.

Speaking at a press conference after her removal, Yong said she would attempt to return to the chamber for the afternoon sitting.