07-07-2025
Chong Chieng Jen ejected from DUN sitting after clash with Speaker over debate remarks
Chong is escorted out of the august House by a Sergeant-at-Arms after being ordered to leave by Mohd Asfia during the Special One-Day Sitting of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. — Photo by Penerangan
KUCHING (July 7): Chong Chieng Jen (DAP–Padungan) was ordered to leave the chamber and suspended from attending the Special One-Day Sitting of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today after defying instructions from Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
The Speaker made the ruling after Chong refused to comply with his directive to sit down and refrain from causing a disturbance during Batu Kitang assemblyman's Lo Khere Chiang's debate presentation.
At the time, Lo was addressing the House and claimed that Chong and (DAP-Pending) Violet Yong did not support the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Members) Bill 2025 and opposed the proposed increase in state seats.
'It appears that the members for Pending and Padungan don't want Sabah and Sarawak to have one-third of the representation in Parliament, in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
'The member for Padungan says he supports increasing Sarawak's parliamentary seats, yet he refuses to support increasing state seats right here in Sarawak,' Lo said.
He went on to cite a view previously expressed by Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, stating that there is no such thing as one state seat for one Parliament seat.
'Once again, we see the typical double standard from DAP.
'Their arguments are not only inconsistent — they are fundamentally flawed,' Lo added.
However, speaking at a press conference shortly after being ordered out of the House, Chong said Lo had made a false allegation by claiming that they did not support the increase of Sarawak's parliamentary seats in the Federal Parliament.
'He (Lo) made a direct accusation, which is untrue, because both myself and Yong have spoken and made our stand very clear.
'Table the increment of parliamentary seats in Parliament, and all our MPs will support it. That has always been our position.
'He made a direct accusation which is a lie, and under the Standing Orders, we are entitled to rise and interject,' Chong asserted.
