Citing her authority as the Perak state assembly deputy speaker, Hee Yit Fong said she was merely exercising her power when she forcibly took over from V Sivakumar during the chaotic state assembly sitting yesterday. "There were 31 of us. They (Pakatan) have lost confidence (of the House). Once they have lost the confidence (of the majority), there must be a re-election of the speaker. This is the democratic system practised in Malaysia," said the Jelapang assembly person at a press conference in Ipoh today.
Together with her at the press conference were BN assemblypersons Hamidah Osman (Sungai Rapat) and Rusnah Kassim (Ulu Kinta).
Hee added: "At the time, the sitting cannot continue. I was sure there was sufficient quorum (one quarter).
"So I have the authority (to hold the proceeding) in accordance to Article 36A (1) (b) of the state constitution."
The entire Article 36A makes no mention of the deputy speaker's powers. Instead, it provides technical details such as the speaker's renumeration and how the speaker can be disqualified if found to have commercial interests.
However, Article 36A (3) reads: "During the absence of the speaker from a sitting of the Legislative Assembly, such members as may be determined by the rules of procedure (Standing Orders) of the assembly, shall act as Speaker."
Hee said that contrary to accusations by Pakatan Rakyat, she had not abused her power by "robbing" Sivakumar of his rights as speaker.
"I don't deny that the speaker (is in charge). But when he cannot administrate the House, I can take over to continue his duties.
"I hope everyone understands. I am fulfilling my duties. I'm not abusing my powers or robbing the speaker of his powers," Hee added.
He said, she said
The Perak state assembly hall was in chaos yesterday as state reps engaged in shouting matches and a brawl involving the throwing of a few punches.
In the midst of the pandemonium, Sivakumar was physically removed from his speaker's chair and dragged out of the House by a group of plainclothes personnel wearing tags which read ‘official' Sivakumar (middle) resisted and shouted, "I am the legal speaker. Why am I being treated like this?" It cannot be ascertained if these were police personnel.
Sungai Rapat assemblyperson Hamidah defended Hee's actions.
"You see, this is the full process of demoracy. The (new) speaker (R Ganesan) comes from the majority in the Dewan. The majority is BN with 31 seats. If the Dewan decides on something, the speaker has to follow. If the Dewan don't want him anymore, he must step down.
"How can just because he (Sivakumar) is speaker he can act beyond his powers and have absolute power? Imagine, he suspended the seven people. What if he suspend all 31 of us? Is that okay? Though he has the power, he must be bound by the rules.
"We were only defending ourselves," she explained.
Meanwhile, Hee and the BN assemblypersons accused Pakatan state reps of using violence against BN members.
Other than being pushed, the group also claimed that a Pakatan member threw a copy of the Standing Orders at Hee's head, which she managed to block with her hand.
"What if the book had hit her face?" asked Rusnah.
Hamidah said that Pakatan members were also standing on tables, breaking the microphones on the BN bench, and using coarse language on BN members.
"We were attacked. None of us crossed over (to the Pakatan side) except to greet them," she said.
On the numerous scuffles that broke out, Hamidah said that BN state reps had the right to defend themselves in view of Pakatan's offensive.
"If it was in the house, a stranger comes in, we have the right to shoot them (with a gun)," she stressed.
However, Hamidah praised PAS state reps for not being involved in the scuffles, and singled out DAP and PKR state reps as the main culprits.
Hee: I didn't use pepper spray
Hee described the sitting as a "nightmare" and claimed that her former DAP colleagues were out to harass her.
She also complained that she was negatively portrayed by press reports.
She said that the note thrown at her was a RM1 note, not a RM50 note as reported in the media.
To set the record straight, she said her former party colleague Thomas Su (DAP-Pasir Pinji) waved a RM50 in front of her but did not hand her the note.
"If I was given RM50, I will keep it and give it to someone in need. But he is a ‘kedekut' (cheapskate). He held on to it and waved it. I know he is 'kedekut'." she said.
On whether she had used the pepper spray against Yew Tian Hoe (DAP-Aulong), Hee said that she pointed her hotel key-chain, not a pepper spray canister.
"It is just a key-chain. 'Hati mereka ada hantu' (They have evil intentions)," she said, adding that she is suffering body aches from the scuffles.
However, a clip taken during the assembly yesterday did show Hee pointing what appeared to be a pepper spray canister at Yew (photo above).
