Silent assembly member earns backbencher’s wrath

25-07-2008 by Regina William

PENANG: A government backbencher Ng Wei Aik (Komtar-DAP) moved a motion to suspend opposition state assemblyman Syed Ameruddin Syed Ahmad (Bayan Lepas Umno) from the state legislative assembly.

Ng moved the motion at the end of the debate on the motion of thanks to Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas on his speech during the opening ceremony on Monday.

Ng said Syed Ameruddin, a former state executive councillor, should be suspended as he had failed to participate in the debate on the motion of thanks and had also failed to submit any questions for the sitting.

The rest of the 26 state assemblymen minus the chief minister and 11 exco members and the deputy state assembly speaker had finished their debate by the end of yesterday’s session.

Opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim (Penaga-BN) then got up and defended Syed Ameruddin who was absent throughout the proceedings yesterday.

“I was made to understand that Syed Ameruddin is unwell and could not attend today, he should be given until Monday to do so,” Azhar said.

This irked RSN Rayer (Seri Delima-DAP) who then criticised Azhar for failing to ensure that all the opposition members played their role.

At this juncture, Ng proposed the motion again. However, state legislative assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain agreed to give Syed Ameruddin until Monday. “We will give him a chance as we are very flexible,” Abdul Halim said.