War of words over 'alternative budget'
Published on: Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: There was an exchange of words between Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Ahmad Abdul Rahman and Tambunan Assemblyman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic) when the former told the latter to withdraw the words "alternative budget" when debating the 2019 State Budget. Dr Jeffrey had initially proposed an alternative budget in his debate, prompting Paginatan Assemblyman Datuk Abidin Madingkir to point out that the session was to debate the State Budget tabled by the Chief Minister and not otherwise. This, however, went unheeded by Dr Jeffrey who continued to propose Gabungan Sabah's alternative budget, which Ahmad subsequently ruled Standing Order 43(1) on Dr Jeffrey, calling him to withdraw the phrase "alternative budget". ADVERTISEMENT "You can make your statement…you can criticise but you can't make that (alternative budget statement) because Article Standing Order 43(1) prevents you from making any other alternative statements," Ahmad told the State opposition leader. "I have to stop you…you can make your statement in the newspaper, but you can't make your statement here," he said. "You can't mention 'alternative budget', you have to criticise the budget, whether you accept it or not it's up to you, I have to stop you, it's my ruling…please."For the sake of…otherwise everyone will be talking about alternative budget, I have to stop you, Yang Berhormat, please refrain yourself, can you go on and refrain from making a statement stating that it's an alternative budget," said Ahmad when Dr Jeffrey continued to defend his debate. ADVERTISEMENT Dr Jeffrey said this was the first time he had been stopped from debating the budget speech, to which Ahmad said, "Well, there will be more coming up…don't be surprised." This escalated into about 10 minutes of exchange of words between the two, with Ahmad at one point saying "Yang Berhormat please withdraw the words alternative budget, as if the Government is incompetent. I have to be fair…please withdraw, otherwise I will ask for the words 'alternative budget' to be expunged from the Hansard."To which Dr Jeffrey pointed out that he did not see anything wrong in proposing the alternative budget for the Government's consideration.
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"Well I do, everybody does but they have not voiced, I am trying to make appease in this Dewan," replied Ahmad.Dr Jeffrey continued to defend his debate, saying "This is my turn to speak, I will not withdraw because this is my right. I am trying to give an option to the Government to consider.""Mr Speaker, be fair…You are supposed to be fair to everybody," he said. Ahmad stood firm in his ruling, saying "I have never stopped you, but I want you to withdraw the phrase please, you cannot mention alternative budget as if you are going to take over the government, you are not, there is a government already."The exchange of words came to a point when Ahmad said he has no alternative but to ask the Bentara (legislative assembly official) to remove Dr Jeffrey if he continued to refuse from withdrawing the phrase "alternative budget". "Yang Berhormat you are a man of letters, you are a Yang Berhormat, you represent your constituency, you represent everybody, I want you to withdraw the phrase alternative budget, please do so now, otherwise I have to ask Bentara to remove you from here until the end of the session this evening," he said. Dr Jeffrey replied, "You want to remove me yes, but I have my rights and I have the right to speak."To which, Ahmad replied, "I never deny your right, I am just trying to tell you to withdraw that phrase, because you are alluding to the fact that there is an alternative government which there is none. Until and unless it has been dissolved, you either withdraw or you have to go out." During two occasions, Apas Assemblyman Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan tried to cut in but was denied by Ahmad who told him to sit down. Dr Jeffrey subsequently relented and was allowed to continue his debate when Kemabong Assemblyman Jamawi Jaafar asked that Dr Jeffrey's speech be stopped, citing Standing Order 45 which states that a representative should only debate the State Budget. To which Ahmad agreed and told Dr Jeffrey that his time was up, before calling on Paginatan Assemblyman to give his debate speech. "What is this, this is not fair, what type of government is this, where is democracy, where is fairness, let me speak," said Dr Jeffrey after being told repeatedly by Ahmad that his time was up. At this point, Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai stood up and pointed out to Ahmad that he (Ahmad) had made an earlier ruling to allow Dr Jeffrey to continue.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"Datuk Speaker, you have made a ruling to allow him to continue earlier and now you are withdrawing it again and you are stopping him, I think it's unfair," said Bangkuai. After which Dr Jeffrey was allowed 15 minutes to continue his debate to the end while refraining from talking about the alternative budget. - Sherell Jeffrey Photo Source: Bernama