IPOH: Gunung Semanggol assemblyman Razman Zakaria is suspended from the Perak state assembly for six months, effective immediately.
This follows a motion moved by Bercham assemblyman Ong Boon Piow and seconded by Rungkup assemblyman Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya.
Perak Speaker Datuk Mohamad Zahir Abdul Khalid ordered Razman to leave the hall after a vote, with the majority in agreement.
Razman was referred to the state assembly's Rights and Privileges Committee on 4 December last year.
He was referred for making unverified allegations and remarks deemed racist and offensive.
These statements concerned an incident where Chinese flags were publicly displayed during a cultural event in October last year.
Razman alleged that Malaysian Chinese flew the flags; however, this was later revealed to have been done by Chinese nationals.
He also alleged that Kepayang assemblyman Nga Kor Ming and Pasir Bedamar assemblyman Woo Kah Leong were involved in the event.
Before leaving the assembly, Razman said he would adhere to the decision made.
He called on all state assemblymen to continue having productive sessions.
At a press conference, Razman said that while he was unhappy with the decision, he accepts it.
He said he raised the issue related to the flag-flying incident to protect the country's sovereignty.
"It is an offence for foreigners to publicly fly their flags. I only asked people to oppose it," he said, adding that he admitted his mistakes and apologised to Nga and Woo for his remarks.
There was also another motion that was moved by Ong against Hulu Kinta assemblyman Mohamad Arafat Varisai Mahamad for making an unsavoury remark in the August hall in the last sitting last year.
A recommendation for Mohamad Arafat to give a written apology and retract his statement was moved, which was seconded by Shahrul Zaman.
Following a vote, the motion was passed.
