Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. -filepic
KOTA KINABALU: A quarrel erupted on usage of the term "alternative budget" during the debate session in the Sabah legislative assembly, which almost led to opposition leader Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan being kicked out of the dewan (assembly).
Jeffrey had tabled an alternative budget during the assembly's debate session. But at this time, the assemblymen were only supposed to debate the state budget, which had been announced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on Nov 9 (Friday).
Jeffrey had first criticised the state budget, saying it was a failure, consisted of broken promises and would not help Sabahans as a whole.
He then went on to say that his opposition Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) coalition would be a better government than the current Warisan-led state government.
Jeffrey then started giving "suggestions" on the alternative budget that GBS could provide.
This led to Paginatan assemblyman (Upko) Datuk Abidin Madingkir asking the assembly's deputy speaker to make a ruling on whether the time allocated was to debate the already announced budget or to debate the alternative budget.
“I ask for a ruling from the deputy speaker, as there were still many who want to debate the (announced) budget,” he said.
Jeffrey replied, saying he was discussing his opinion of the budget.
“We need to have alternative budgets, not only one budget,” he went on to say before Sabah state assembly deputy speaker Datuk Ahmad Abdul Rahman stopped him and requested Jeffrey to withdraw the word "alternative budget".
Ahmad said Jeffrey can make his statements in the newspaper or he can criticise the (announced) budget, but was not allowed to make an "alternative budget" according to rules (Standing Order 43 (1)).
“You have been mentioning alternative budget, and article 43 (1) prevents you from giving an alternative budget.
"This is my ruling and I have to stop you otherwise other people will be making alternative budgets. Please refrain yourself from making a statement that this is an alternative budget,” he said.
Jeffrey said this was a first time that a person could not provide an alternative budget, to which Ahmad said he should "not be surprised" that there will be many more such orders in future.
Ahmad again asked Jeffrey to withdraw the word "alternative budget" as if the government was incompetent, or else he would ask for the word "alternative budget" to be deleted from the records.
He said he would not draw any more attention on the issue, and that he was trying to make peace in the assembly.
He said he would allow Jeffrey to continue with what he wants to say, but to please withdraw the words "alternative budget".
“You are supposed to be fair to everybody,” Jeffrey protested.
Ahmad replied that Jeffrey was trying to imply that there will be an alternative government.
“You either withdraw (the words) or I will ask that you be removed from the dewan (assembly) until the end of the session this evening,” he said.
Abidin cut in to say that the decision of the speaker was final and that those sitting in the assembly have to adhere to any decisions made by the speaker.
After a 10-minute argument, Jeffrey finally relented and said that he was withdrawing the phrase "alternative budget". He then went on with his suggestions on the budget.
However, several other assemblymen, including Kemabong’s Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, later reminded Jeffrey that an assemblyman can only debate the Chief Minister’s speech and nothing else, or it would confuse the assembly.
He requested Ahmad to stop Jeffrey from talking further as his time was up. That made Jeffrey upset.
“What is this? I have just started. Not fair. What kind of government is this? I thought there would be more democracy but where is the democracy in this?” he asked.
Later, Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (PBS) said that Ahmad had earlier made a ruling for Jeffrey to continue with what he wants to say, and that it was not fair to pull back on the decision by making Jeffrey stop giving his views.
To this, Ahmad asked how much longer Jeffrey needed, as he had used up eight minutes.
Jeffrey requested for 15 more minutes. He managed to continue but toned down on the "alternative budget".
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