KUCHING: Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) has been suspended for the rest of the DUN sitting after failing to apologise and retract his statement labelling the state budget “David Copperfield accounting”.
The motion to suspend Chong for the rest of the DUN sitting was moved by Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh during the latter’s ministerial winding up speech at the DUN sitting today (Dec 15).
Wong (BN-Bawang Assan) had called on Chong to apologise unconditionally and withdraw his statement but the state DAP chairman responded by saying he stood by his statement.
Chong said the 2016 Sarawak State Budget should be a ‘deficit’ budget, but had been ‘magically’ turned into a surplus budget by what the accounting profession called ‘creative accounting’, and what he described as ‘David Copperfield Accounting’.
When the members of the August House were asked to cast their votes, 32 voted in favour of the suspension while 12 voted against.
Former DAP lawmaker Fong Pau Teck (Ind-Pujut) abstained from voting.
DUN speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, in his ruling, said under the Standing Orders, Chong had used offensive and insulting language on a fellow August House member; purporting a statement of allegation to another member; deliberately misleading the August House and refusing to withdraw objectionable words.
The motion was seconded by Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing (BN-Baleh). Following the suspension, Chong is expected to miss the final day of the current DUN sitting which resumes tomorrow.