Penang opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim has been slammed for being in contempt of the state legislature assembly when he alleged that the verbatim account of the proceedings could have been “manipulated”.

NONEDewan Negeri speaker Abdul Halim Hussain (left) said that he “regretted” the statement, which was later followed by a walkout of  BN representatives, the second since a similar action yesterday.

The opposition reps left the House in a huff after Abdul Halim rejected a motion to refer Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to the rights and privileges committee.

Azhar had threatened to lodge reports with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over Lim’s alleged seditious remarks and the possibility of the Hansard being manipulated.

Lim, the DAP secretary-general, had irked the BN leaders over a remark he made regarding the demolition of Hindu temples if Umno were to regain power in the state.

Abdul Halim displayed to reporters the video clip of the proceedings which showed Lim having said he “felt Hindu temples could be threatened” if Umno were to regain power in Penang.

Lim had said this when urging Hilmi Yahya (BN-Teluk Bahang), who is chairman of the Penang Port Sdn Bhd, allegedly responsible for the demolition of a 50-year-old temple in Prai, to apologise to the community.

The BN reps, angered by the remark against Umno, staged a walkout from the House yesterday when Lim refused to retract his comment.

“If the reps were in the House, the speaker could decide to suspend them for being in contempt of the state assembly,” said Abdul Halim in a press conference today.

“But if they are not in, a motion can be filed to refer them to the rights and privileges committee,” he added.

NONEAzhar (right), who is Penaga assemblyperson, had been suspended twice before - once for allegedly showing his behind to the speaker and last year, for reportedly uttering seditious remarks related to the racial riots of May 13, 1969.

Abdul Halim clarified that he shot down the motion to refer Lim to the committee as the motion was on a baseless allegation.

He added that after reviewing the verbatim account in Hansard, he found that the issue was not urgent, did not affect public interest nor was there any urgency to discuss it.

He stressed that those found guilty of contempt can be suspended, although he does not support the act.

On whether the Hansard had been “manipulated” before as alleged by Azhar, Halim denied it had ever happened.