… He needs to see a shrink
Selangor state legislative assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim has defended his decision to suspend opposition leader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
He also said the former menteri besar should see a psychiatrist for indulging in too many conspiracy theories.
Teng – who was opposition leader under Khir’s reign – said he gave the latter the choice of retracting the remark or be slapped with marching orders.
“I gave him a chance to retract or leave. He was stubborn and did not want to admit his mistake,” he told reporters.
Earlier today, Sekinchan DAP rep Ng Suee Lim sought a clarification from Teng on whether it was appropriate for Khir to issue him a legal letter within the compounds of the House.
Khir admitted the incident did take place and Teng ruled that it was inappropriate and ticked off the opposition leader.
This sparked off a war of words between the two over the limits of the House compound, resulting in Khir accusing Teng of being biased.
Khir was suspended after ignoring repeated instructions by Teng to retract the remark.
‘Pantang’ accusation
Teng told reporters that he had invoked Standing Orders 88 to reprimand Khir and reminded him not to repeat the matter again, because it was akin to contempt of the House.
To justify his decision, Teng quoted a passage from the Eskrine May Parliamentary Practices (23rd Ed), page 142, which reads: “Serving or executing civil or criminal process within the precinct of either house while the house is sitting, without obtaining the leave of the house is a contempt.”
Teng said there was no question of bias because Ng had raised the issue on Friday, but he had refused to entertain the matter because Khir was not present then.
“If I was biased, I would have taken action on Friday. I wanted to ask (Khir) if it was true, and today he admitted,” he said, adding that his ‘reminder’ to Khir was based on the latter’s answer.
“The speaker is like a judge. He is pantang (offended) when accused of being biased. I can be accused of making wrong interpretation (of the rules) or forgoing process,” he said.
Teng believed that Khir was trying to create the impression that Pakatan Rakyat was victimising him, to divert attention from the controversies which the former menteri besar faces.
“He always alleged that we take revenge on him, when he himself commits so many offences, including this morning. When Ng talked about his palatial mansion, he calls it revenge.
“I think he is thinking (too much of) conspiracy theories. He needs a psychiatrist. Please quote me (on that),” he said.
Ng: Khir lied about carpark
On Khir’s allegations outside the House that his lawyers had served Ng the letter at the adjacent carpark, Teng said he was unaware of this because Khir did not say so in the House.
According to Teng, the speaker is empowered to issue suspensions of up to five days.
At a separate press conference, Ng denied that the letter was served at the carpark as claimed by Khir.
Instead, Ng said the letter was served at the annexe building which houses offices and the state reps’ dining hall and this was witnessed by Kota Alam Shah state rep M Manoharan.
“How can this menteri besar for eight years tell such a blatant lie?” he asked.
Ng was served a letter of demand claiming millions in compensation over his accusations relating to Khir’s new lavish mansion in Shah Alam.
Andrew Ong, Mkini
