Speaker stands firm on Dr Ting’s disqualification

“Knowing that they could not succeed in court, they now come back to this House with full knowledge that with this House, might is right, with the brute majority that they can carry through whatever motion tabled by a BN member.”

Chong then went through the evidence presented by the minister by pointing out that the evidence would be thrown out by court.

“Anyone trained in law would know that. And that’s why today we see the proposer and the seconder from UPP ( United People’s Party). They are not trained in law, but we are arguing a point of constitutional law.”

Standing firm on his decision, Asfia informed the august House that Dr Ting’s bankruptcy was clearly stated on the website of an Australian government agency - Australian Financial Security Authority.

“If you press it, you click, those are the names (who are) bankrupt. Instead of using the word bankrupt, it’s called insolvency. So your name appeared there in the insolvency index.

“Your full name appeared. Do you challenge? Do you think it’s fake? That the Australian government is running a fake website? Insolvency means bankrupt,” he told Dr Ting

Chong was heard shouting in the background, that insolvency is not bankruptcy but his microphone was turned off at the time.

Chong continued to raise his voice, with the microphone still turned off, as he attempted to put his argument across but Asfia went on with his address.

“Article 24(1) of the Federal Constitution, I read to you, If the federal government is satisfied that any citizen has acquired by registration, naturalisation or other voluntary and formal act the citizenship of any country outside the federation, the federal government may by order deprive that person of his citizenship.

“Which means the moment you acquire an Australian citizenship, you are deprived of a Malaysian citizenship, you cannot have dual citizenship from Malaysia.

“You renounced it but Article 23(1) of the Federal Constitution says, any renunciation of citizenship must be registered in Malaysia. You cannot unilaterally renounce it. This is the law. You challenge this law?” stressed Asfia, who then called Wong to wind up.

Chong was then granted the floor and he asserted: “You (Asfia) make an interpretation of Article 24 of the Federal Constitution. That is your interpretation and if we go outside of this House, it will not be a final interpretation. The word is ‘may’, the government may...”

Asfia responded: “Honorable member for Kota Sentosa, with the greatest respect, this matter started in the election petition. You used the preliminary objection so that the substantive issue could not be raised in court. Now you say it’s to be raised in court. Why did you raise preliminary objection? If you did not raise this preliminary objection, this would be determined by the court. Because this issue was not been able to be raised in court, it is raised in the Dewan.”

Chong replied, “Mr speaker, preliminary objection in election petition goes to the jurisdiction of the court to decide the matter in hand. If you do not comply with the objections that we have raised, those technical points, the election court has no jurisdiction but that does not deprive the government of taking another action for a declaration that he (Dr Ting) being disqualified.

“Not under election petition but under high court jurisdiction. But you chose to come to this House where the brute majority would rule, might is right to deprive the people of Pujut, their rightful voice. That is law making but not interpreting law.”

Chong wanted to go on making his point but his microphone was turned off again.

He then got into a heated argument with Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (whose mic was also turned off).

Asfia had to appeal to both of them to be seated in order to make way for Wong to complete his winding up speech.

The Speaker then ruled that the august House has the final say on the membership of any member of the House as stipulated under Article 19 of the State Constitution.

When the floor was returned to the minister, Wong advised DAP to scrutinise their candidates before the nomination of any elections.

“You cannot just source and scout for any person. I know you want a professional, a doctor or a lawyer, but you should not choose without screening the background. Now you live to regret.”

This point provoked Chong to defend his party, but Asfia ruled that the minister had the right of the floor to finish winding up his speech.

Half way through the speech, Wong threw a question at Dr Ting: “Member for Pujut, did you acquire the Australian citizenship?”

Dr Ting declined to give a direct reply which prompted Wong to interject and demand that the DAP man offer a ‘Yes or no’ answer.

Dr Ting still refused to provide a simple answer but argued that he was not the one who raised the allegation, and that Wong should be the one proving to the House that he had indeed acquired the Australian citizenship.

Dr Ting’s defence led Asfia to point out: “This is not a motion against Bawang Assan. It’s against you.”

Wong carried on his speech with an advice to Dr Ting: “Do not try to mislead this House anymore. Do not try to confuse anyone.”

Some opposition members could have challenged the minister to repeat the matter outside the House as Wong was heard: “I will do it. Don’t challenge me. I will do it.”

He warned the opposition that they would be landing Dr Ting in hot water as he has concrete evidence that Dr Ting had accepted the Australian citizenship and exercised the right as Australian citizen by being registered by the Electoral Commission of Australia.