PETALING JAYA: A Sarawak DAP assemblyman branded the state’s transport minister Lee Kim Shin a "coward" for criticising a recently suspended elected representative at the state assembly sitting.
In his winding-up speech, Lee described as “short-sighted” the call by Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen for the Sarawak government to abandon the proposed new Kuching international airport and other major strategic infrastructure projects due to their substantial development costs.
He also said Chong’s remarks reeked of double standards, the Dayak Daily reported.
Lee’s comments prompted Pending assemblyman Violet Yong to argue that he should not comment on Chong’s remarks as the latter was not present to defend himself.
“If he wants an answer, why (did) he remove Padungan?” Yong was quoted as saying, referring to the motion tabled by Lee last week to suspend Chong.
“This is called political cowardice.”
Lee, who is the Senadin assemblyman, demanded Yong retract the word “coward,” explaining that the suspension was a collective decision by 62 assemblymen and not his personal decision.
Yong, however, refused to withdraw her remarks and doubled down.
“I am not going to withdraw (my remarks) because he is a political coward. He moved the motion, he removed him and he attacked him. Is he not a coward? He is a coward.”
Yong’s remarks led to Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap accusing her of engaging in political theatrics and suggesting that she wanted to be ejected from the House.
“Then the minute she gets kicked out from the Dewan, we'll have another set of videos coming out saying that this particular Dewan bullies her.”
Chong, who is also Sarawak DAP chief, was suspended from the state assembly on Oct 15 for the remainder of the current session after a motion was adopted alleging that he misled the assembly about the Sarawak 2027 budget document and acted improperly during its debate.
Yong had previously taken issue with state assembly speaker Asfia Awang Nassar for stating that Chong had chosen not to attend the sitting last Thursday.
She said that Asfia was being unfair as he knew that Chong, who is Stampin MP, was in the Dewan Rakyat.