SARAWAK ASSEMBLY DAP Pending assemblyperson Violet Yong has been referred to the committee of privileges after she refused to withdraw her statement against Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Awang Tengah Ali Hassan who felt insulted by her statement.

In her debate, Yong accused the minister of being ignorant of the problem of illegal logging when he continued to say that illegal logging was minimal and that the loss from such illegal activities only came to 0.01 percent of the RM731 million in revenue collected from timber taxes and royalties.

However, Yong maintained that the MACC had announced that the loss amounted to RM100 million.

Even the latest seizure of illegally logged timber, she said, worth more than RM1 million, took place at Sungai Limut in Lawas, which is the minister’s hometown.

Pointing out that the minister was sleeping on the job, Yong called on the chief minister to remove Awang Tengah (left) as second minister of resource planning and environment.

“He is not fit to be the minister,” she said.

After Awang Tengah completed his winding-up debate on his ministry, he told the speaker that he felt insulted by Yong’s statement and wanted her withdraw it.

Yong not only refused to withdraw her statement, but whe went on to ask Awang Tengah when he would resign as the second minister of resource planning.

Subsequently, the minister tabled a motion to refer her to the committee of privileges. The motion was approved 30 to 12.

Yong’s fate may be decided at the end of the House session on Wednesday. On her part, she said she expects to be suspended from the Dewan.