DAP rep avoids being suspended
Tony ThienPublished: May 16, 2009 5:14 AM | Updated: May 16, 2009 5:53 AM
Another DAP state assemblyperson got off from being referred to the Sarawak state assembly’s committee of privileges yesterday after causing the ire of Sarawak United People’s Party (Supp) leaders for alleging they lied about a flood mitigation project for Kuching.
Chong Chieng Jen, the DAP representative for Kota Sentosa, wittingly took the step to withdraw his remarks in the House, thus avoiding being referred to the committee of privileges as the BN had threatened to do and risking another term of suspension.
But he repeated what he said outside the House later to the media.
Another DAP state assemblyperson got off from being referred to the Sarawak state assembly’s committee of privileges yesterday after causing the ire of Sarawak United People’s Party (Supp) leaders for alleging they lied about a flood mitigation project for Kuching.
Chong Chieng Jen, the DAP representative for Kota Sentosa, wittingly took the step to withdraw his remarks in the House, thus avoiding being referred to the committee of privileges as the BN had threatened to do and risking another term of suspension.
But he repeated what he said outside the House later to the media.
It all started when Chong, who is also the Bandar Kuching parliamentarian, and suspended last year for about six months on another matter, accused Supp leaders of lying about the party engaging experts from China to help advise on a flood mitigation project for Kuching, which is subject occasionally to flooding.
Outside the chamber yesterday, after withdrawing his earlier allegation during question time, the DAP leader repeated his allegation, questioning why Supp had to engage the Chinese experts in 2004 for the flood mitigation plan when the government had already come up with a solution by building a flood mitigation channel in 2000.
“When I say it is a lie, I’m not referring to the existence of Chinese experts or their coming to Sarawak to study the problem,” Chong told reporters.
“I am referring to the perception that Supp gave the people that the Chinese experts were here to mitigate the flood,” he explained.
Government already had a solution
Chong, also a lawyer, said his argument was that even before the Chinese experts came, the government already had a solution to build a flood by-pass (river diversion channel).
(The state government recently awarded a river diversion channel in which a mainland Chinese company is involved for a sum of about RM100 million as part of the flood mitigation project for Kuching).
Deputy Chief Minister and Supp chief, Dr George Chan, said he and his party were happy that Chong had withdrawn his statement made in the House.
He added that Chong's retraction had exonerated Supp leaders. “We don't lie,” Chan said. “We tell our people not to lie.”
However, he added that if Chong were to repeat the allegation outside the House, the party might contemplate taking him to court.
Earlier this week, Chong’s colleague Wong Ho Leng, the state assemblyperson for Bukit Assek and state party chairperson, was suspended for 12 months with his allowances intact after using the word “camouflage” relating to the tabling of a government financial account last year.
The BN was not amused and when he refused towithdraw the word he was referred to the committee of privileges, found in breach and suspended for a period of 12 months.
Chong said yesterday he had taken the course to withdraw his allegation in the House because the party was not willing to risk losing another member to a suspension order.
Chong Chieng Jen, the DAP representative for Kota Sentosa, wittingly took the step to withdraw his remarks in the House, thus avoiding being referred to the committee of privileges as the BN had threatened to do and risking another term of suspension. But he repeated what he said outside the House later to the media.
It all started when Chong, who is also the Bandar Kuching parliamentarian, and suspended last year for about six months on another matter, accused Supp leaders of lying about the party engaging experts from China to help advise on a flood mitigation project for Kuching, which is subject occasionally to flooding.
Outside the chamber yesterday, after withdrawing his earlier allegation during question time, the DAP leader repeated his allegation, questioning why Supp had to engage the Chinese experts in 2004 for the flood mitigation plan when the government had already come up with a solution by building a flood mitigation channel in 2000.
“When I say it is a lie, I’m not referring to the existence of Chinese experts or their coming to Sarawak to study the problem,” Chong told reporters.
“I am referring to the perception that Supp gave the people that the Chinese experts were here to mitigate the flood,” he explained.
Government already had a solution
Chong, also a lawyer, said his argument was that even before the Chinese experts came, the government already had a solution to build a flood by-pass (river diversion channel).
(The state government recently awarded a river diversion channel in which a mainland Chinese company is involved for a sum of about RM100 million as part of the flood mitigation project for Kuching).
Deputy Chief Minister and Supp chief, Dr George Chan, said he and his party were happy that Chong had withdrawn his statement made in the House.He added that Chong's retraction had exonerated Supp leaders. “We don't lie,” Chan said. “We tell our people not to lie.”
However, he added that if Chong were to repeat the allegation outside the House, the party might contemplate taking him to court.
Earlier this week, Chong’s colleague Wong Ho Leng, the state assemblyperson for Bukit Assek and state party chairperson, was suspended for 12 months with his allowances intact after using the word “camouflage” relating to the tabling of a government financial account last year.
The BN was not amused and when he refused towithdraw the word he was referred to the committee of privileges, found in breach and suspended for a period of 12 months.
Chong said yesterday he had taken the course to withdraw his allegation in the House because the party was not willing to risk losing another member to a suspension order.
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