Dragged through mud over sand issue

Assembly in disarray as MPS from both sides of the divide flare up

SHAHALAM: A director of kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) has invited several Barisan Nasional assemblymen to join the state-owned sand mining company as they often question the operations of the firm.

Shuhaimi Shafiei (PKR-SRI Muda), also a KSSB director, made the offer to the Barisan assemblymen from Kuang, Batang Kali, Seri Serdang and Jeram when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address at the Selangor state assembly yesterday.

Shuhaimi, the first to debate the motion, found himself constantly sparring with Datuk Satim Diman (Bn-seri Serdang) and Mohd Isa Kassim (Bn-batang Kali) as he spoke about kssb’s financial records in Selangor.

The debate heated up when Mohd Isa pointed out that many parts of Selangor had been turned into mines. Shuhaimi retorted by saying many of the mines were already there during Barisan’s administration of the state.

“In Batang Kali, there are many mines,” said Shuhaimi.

This agitated Mohd Isa, who asked Shuhaimi if he had visited the area himself.

“Did you see these mines yourself? Do not simply say things,” said Mohd Isa, as he repeatedly pressed Shuhaimi for an answer while the latter tried to carry on with his address.

The shouting match went on for a couple of minutes, prompting Deputy Speaker Haniza Talha to intervene and ask Mohd Isa to sit down.

Mohd Isa then called Haniza “one-sided” to which she demanded a retraction.

Satim then asked about the Mentri Besar’s annual target of Rm150mil from sand royalties, and continued to harass Shuhaimi for a reply until Haniza told him to stop.

Shuhaimi said that since KSSB started operations in September 2008, the company had made Rm181mil profit before tax up till last year.

“KSSB has to get approval from the Land Office (to mine) and is monitored by seven or eight agencies,” he said.

Abdul Shukur Idrus (Bn-kuang) got into the mix by saying the Pakatan Rakyat state government only knew how to mine sand as well as sell the land and assets of state subsidiaries.

Shuhaimi then said: “The one that sold land is Seri Serdang.”

Ng Suee Lim (Dap-sekinchan) asked Shuhaimi if he could provide more details to back up his allegation.

Mohd Isa jumped in, and pressed him to either respond to Ng’s query or retract his slanderous statement.

When Shuhaimi tried to sidestep the issue, an infuriated Mohd Isa turned to Haniza and asked her to instruct Shuhaimi to make a retraction.

“It is as if he has a share in Seri Serdang,” remarked Shuhaimi, which led to Mohd Isa screaming at him and Haniza.

“Look at that, Puan Speaker. Ask himto retract. Be fair!” saidmohdisa.

Haniza claimed she did not hear Shuhaimi’s remark as the House had been very noisy, and that did not sit well with Mohd Isa.

“The whole Dewan heard him, but the Speaker did not,” he bellowed.

Haniza then laid the law on everyone, warning them to behave in accordance with Standing Order 44(1) which states that the Chair has the power to direct anyone to discontinue their speech.