All 25 Umno reps walk out of Perak state assembly, accuse Speaker of bias

Pulau Pangkor assemblyman Datuk Seri Zambry Kadir speak at a press conference at the state asssembly meeting on Wednesday, Nov 28, 2018

IPOH: All 25 Umno state assemblymen staged a walkout after accusing the Perak state assembly speaker Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham of being biased.

It started when Perak Opposition leader Datuk Saarani Ibrahim "congratulated" Ngeh as the richest MP at the end of his debate speech, and asked if he could explain how he had become so rich.

To that, Ngeh replied his assets were due to profits from properties gains.

Ngeh said that he did not have the opportunity to make the people of Perak richer the last 10 years due to the power grab in 2009. "I would have dedicated my life to serving the people of Perak and making them richer instead of me getting richer over the last 10 years with time spent on my own investments," he said in reference to the take over of the state government by Barisan Nasional in 2009.

Ngeh tops the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission asset declaration list at RM82mil, followed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has accumulated assets worth RM23mil.

To this several assemblymen including Saarani and former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir got up, calling the Speaker biased.

Ngeh, who is also the Beruas MP, said he was merely replying to a questioned posted by Saarani.

Dr Zambry told Ngeh he should be sitting with the assemblymen, and get someone else to sit on the Speaker’s chair.

“As a Speaker, you should portray yourself to be fair and not biased,” he added before leading the Umno reps on a walkout.

Later Saarani told a press conference that Ngeh’s character showed he was not fair, as he had been answering questions during debates as well.

“We are debating here, he (Ngeh) is answering, looks like he wants to be part of the debate, and lastly he ‘tak tahan’ (could not stand) and ‘lepas’ (let go),” he added.

The assemblymen then re-entered the hall.