@ Sun2Surf
Azhar suspended for rest of assembly meeting
GEORGE TOWN (Dec 3, 2009) : Penang opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim (BN-Penaga) was suspended for the rest of the current assembly meeting when he refused to apologise for gesturing at his backside in the house the day before.
The former state executive councillor and current Penang Umno secretary also turned down Speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Husin’s invitation to watch a video recording of the incident, saying it was “buang masa” (waste of time). 
Azhar was first ejected on Wednesday afternoon, for the rest of the day, when he refused to retract the word 'kerat’ (or ‘cut’) in accusing some Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen of not helping Malays.
As PR backbenchers said they found the word derogatory, Azhar responded by gesturing at his posterior.
When proceedings began today, Abdul Halim asked Azhar to apologise to Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Pantai Jerejak) for the lewd gesture.
Azhar refused, saying he had merely bent down to reach for his bag. This prompted an uproar from the PR backbenchers.
Abdul Halim then said he had seen the video of the incident. “I am wiling to stop proceedings so you can view the video with me in private,” he told Azhar.
Azhar refused, saying it was a waste of time. “I am willing to be suspended for five years… no way I will apologise,” he said.
Sim said he was only asking for a simple apology.
When Azhar stood his ground, Abdul Halim suspended him for the rest of the sitting, which is expected to end tomorrow. (Friday, Dec 4)
The other 10 BN assemblymen, all from Umno, joined him in walking out.
Azhar later told reporters in the lobby that his ejection was a “conspiracy” to keep him from criticising the PR administration.
He defended his phrase 'kerat', saying it was a Malay slang to refer to people.
"It is not like I said dua, tiga kerat kemaluan (two, three pieces of private parts)," he said.
"And today, I was accused of showing my butt. I was just taking my bag. I was told to get out because of that.
Azhar said he would write to the Speaker of the Parliament over the incident.
"I will also write to other state assembly Speakers, informing them about such an incident under the PR government," he said.
Meanwhile, Sim told reporters that Azhar's gesture was not like he was reaching for his bag. "What Azhar, as opposition head, did was degrading and shameful," Sim said.
Later, several reporters viewed a video recording of the incident, which showed opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim (BN Penaga) showing his backside to Sim Tze Tzin (PKR- Pantai Jerejak) before he was asked to leave the House.
The video clip, which is available online, showed Azhar arguing with several Pakatan Rakyat leaders for about seven minutes before he was asked to leave.
When Sim kept citing the standing orders, Azhar turned his back to Sim, bent over and said "ini peraturan" (This is the order).
Despite being asked repeatedly by deputy speaker Tan Hock Leong (PKR - Machang Bubok) to retract his words, Azhar refused.
He was then asked to leave the House.
Updated: 04:03PM Thu, 03 Dec 2009
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