KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic) has retracted his statement labelling Kapayan assemblyman Chin Teck Ming "a lawyer with a crazy mind (ini lawyer, tapi otak gila ini)" at the previous state assembly meeting.
"I retract my statement made during the last state legislative assembly session in April," he said before the second day of the current meeting started on Tuesday (July 21).
The day before, Chin had asked Hajiji to withdraw the statement, stating that he could accept criticism of his arguments but not insults to his dignity as a member of the House.
He raised the issue under Standing Order 43(4), referring to the Hansard dated April 30, 2026.
He said debates should be responded to with facts and arguments, not with insulting words, especially when such remarks came from the Chief Minister.
"If the Chief Minister himself uses such language without any action being taken, what message are we sending to the people?
"That insults are valued more than reasoned arguments? Or that the Standing Orders apply only to certain individuals?" Chin, who is from Parti Warisan, said on Monday (July 20).
The remark was withdrawn after Deputy Speaker Datuk Al Hambra Tun Juhar invited Hajiji to provide an explanation following Chin's reference to the matter during a debate session.
