Ayer Keroh state assemblyperson Khoo Poay Tiong from DAP was suspended from the Melaka state assembly for one day tomorrow
after failing to follow the Speaker's directive.

Speaker Othman Muhamad said the action on Khoo was for failing to adhere to the Speaker's directive to stop his debate after the allocated time was over.

"The one day suspension order is the minimum, I cannot be patient for the action of the state assemblyperson who was adamant and failed to follow the directive to stop his debate," he told reporters when met outside the dewan in Melaka today.

The dewan was debating a motion put forward by Lim Jak Wong (DAP-Bachang) who wanted the Melaka state government to build a solid waste management centre in Sungai Udang.

According to Othman, he had entertained Khoo's request to be given two additional minutes to continue his debate on the motion but despite repeated calls to stop after the two minutes were up, he had refused to stop.

Othman, 58, who was appointed Speaker on April 21, 2008 said it was the first time he had suspended any state assemblyperson from the dewan.

Meanwhile, Khoo, 40, said although the Speaker had suspended him, he would still attend tomorrow's sitting because he had commitments and expectations of voters to fulfill.

Khoo said he was forced to continue his debate because he was interrupted by BN state assemblyperson from Sungai Rambai, Hasan Raman, who teased him by uttering the word "pendek" or short in English.

Melaka has 28 state assemblyman, of which 23 are from BN and five from DAP.

- Bernama