DUN resolves to bring reinstatement of Dr Ting to Federal Court

KUCHING: The State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday resolved to turn to the Federal Court to appeal the decision of both the Court of Appeal and the High Court to reinstate Dr Ting Tiong Choon as the Pujut assemblyman.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah moved a motion to bring the appeal to the apex court which saw 68 members of the august house voting in favour while seven others voted against it.

Prior to the open vote, there was a heated exchange of words between Abdul Karim and Wong King Wei (DAP-Padungan) - marking the first time both honourable members losing their cool in the House.

In his winding-up, Abdul Karim said the issue related to the privileges of the House and hence the House should appeal to "the apex court of the land which is the Federal Court".

"We have not reached that court as yet. It is every right of this august house to appeal until the decision of the apex court has been obtained.

"We are not questioning the issue that Member of Pujut has been elected, that the people voted for him; yes, we do agree. But the people have not been informed of what has transpired, and the qualification of someone to be elected.

"We don't want to have a stranger in the House, somebody who is not qualified to sit in the House," he pointed out.

His remarks prompted Wong to seek point of clarification but Deputy Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala did not grant the opposition member the floor.

Wong was heard shouting in the background while Abdul Karim responded: "You sit down, I'm not giving you way. Come on, sit down. I just saw you slamming your Standing Order on the table, you have no respect for the House. You sit down, you just sit down."

Wong, whose microphone was not switched on, did not seem to heed the advice of the minister, who repeated: "You have no respect for the House. You don't even deserve to sit down here."

As Wong persisted in putting his points forward, Gerawat stepped in, saying: "Padungan, Padungan" before he was interrupted by Abdul Karim who said in a raised voice: "It's my winding-up. I'm not giving way."

When Abdul Karim finally regained his floor, he proceeded to say: "This is not personal action against Member of Pujut, not a political persecution. This action is to protect the dignity and integrity of this august house."

He said "everybody knows and the court also knows" that Malaysians ought not to hold dual citizenships.

"Why he (Dr Ting) applied (for Australian citizenship), he should be in the know that it is an offence under the Malaysian law," stressed Abdul Karim

This immediately prompted Wong to express his legal opinion, which could be heard in the background.

"I'm not trying to debate with you. Malaysia doesn't practise dual citizenships," said the minister who kept on asking Wong to "sit down".