ACTING Sabah opposition leader Jeffrey Kitingan got into a verbal match with state Assembly Deputy Speaker Ahmad Abdul Rahman after he tried to table the opposition’s alternative budget.

The Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku chief speech was interrupted several times by government assemblymen, prompting Ahmad to instruct Jeffrey to stop or he will be booted out of the house.

Panginatan assemblyman Abidin Madingkir was the first to hit out at Jeffrey.

The United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation (Upko) elected  representative had requested for a ruling from the deputy speaker for the session to stick to debating the chief minister’s budget, not the opposition’s alternative budget.
Ahmad cited Standing Order 43 (1) to stop Kitingan’s speech.

“You can make statements or criticise, but don’t table your alternative budget because the Standing Orders do not allow you to sidetrack from the purpose of today’s debate.

“You can make your statements to the papers but not here or otherwise everyone will be tabling their own budgets, too,” said Ahmad.

“Well there’ll be more (matters) coming up. Please withdraw the alternative budget because it’s as if the government is incompetent.

“I have to be fair, please withdraw otherwise I’ll ask the word ‘alternative’ to be expunged from hansard.” he added.

Kitingan resisted and this resulted in a verbal match between the two men, which lasted for over 20 minutes.

Ahmad said Kitingan had in “bad faith” trying to raise an alternative budget, warning he would instruct the assembly’s guards to escort him out.

Kitingan continued to challenge Ahmad, saying he had a right to table his budget.

He eventually relented and withdrew the phrase “budget” from his speech but continued tabling the alternative budget.

Kemabong assemblyman Jamawi Jaafar cited Standing Order 4, saying that assemblymen may debate only the budget speech and nothing else.

Ahmad concurred and said Kitingan’s time is up and proceeded to give the floor to another assemblyman.

This made Kitingan upset, accusing Ahmad of being unfair.

Kitingan managed to end his speech, but without most of his alternative budget. – November 12, 2018.