War of words over corruption
A WAR of words erupted when issues on corruption and graft were raised by Penang Environment, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh yesterday.
Phee alleged that Barisan Nasional (BN) was not serious in combating graft, to which Shariful Azhar Othman (BN– Bertam) protested and demanded for proof.
His colleague Datuk Mohd Zain Ahmad (BN–Penaga) then told Phee not to use the hall to campaign for the 14th general election.
“Do not simply accuse BN and Umno of supporting corruption, we can also raise such matters in relation to the state government, like what happened to the chief minister,” he said.
All three then engaged in verbal combat with the two BN lawmakers repeatedly calling for proof.
Mohd Zain said a Johor exco had resigned after he was charged, and asked why Penang assemblymen did not urge Air Putih (the constituency of the chief minister) representative to do so.
R.S.N. Rayer (DAP–Seri Delima) entered the verbal fray as deputy speaker Datuk Maktar Shapee appealed for calm and told Phee to continue his wind-up.
Undeterred, Phee referred to a 2004 motion he had moved when he was then the Penang Legislature opposition leader on supporting the then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on combating corruption.
The motion was not passed as no government assemblyman had supported the motion. He, as the only state opposition member, was the only one who supported it.
Datuk Jahara Hamid (BN–Teluk Air Tawar) said this was “cerita lama” (old story) and told Phee to raise current issues.
“People are already bored, raise something new,” she said.