By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, April 30: Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei has described as “too excessive” and an “injustice” his 12-month suspension from the state legislature, as it represented one-fifth of his term as a lawmaker.
“I see that (suspension) as an injustice caused to me because one-fifth of my term as an ADUN (assemblyman) has been taken away just because of that statement.
“And to me, the punishment is too excessive. It is very rare. Normally, there are no 12-month punishment or suspension. It is usually for six months. That is the most for even a more serious offence,” Wong told the press on the sidelines of the DUN sitting today.
He opined that neither did he cause anybody harm nor chaos or commotion when he presented his argument against Asfia.
For a simple word that he uttered, he “got 12 months, which is excessive, and I believe that is a personal attack against me”.
Wong was referred to the DUN privileges committee for calling on DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar to resign to give way for DUN reform during the November sitting last year.
This morning, DUN made the decision to suspend Wong for 12 months for the offence.
Wong said he would consult senior legal counsel Chong Siew Chiang and other members of his legal team on the next course of action to take.
“I want to do it in the way to preserve natural justice — whether there is a breach of natural justice in my case, which at this moment, I feel it is a serious breach.
“But, of course, from the point of the law, I also need to get advice from the legal team, and we will see if there is any ground to challenge.
“I feel that I have been grossly and unfairly treated,” Wong reiterated.
Wong said the whole episode started because he was speaking in the DUN, calling for a DUN reform, where it was inevitable that the Speaker would be implicated.
“I put it in a way that is constructive criticism, not against the Speaker personally but for the purpose of DUN reform,” said Wong. — DayakDaily
