A TECHNICAL glitch at the Penang legislative assembly caused two DAP colleagues to be entangled in a long spat until one of them offered an apology.
It started when State Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang admitted that a technical default had occurred and some answers to verbal questions by the backbenchers were released online through the adun.net (an inhouse state portal) before the questions were actually posed to the state executive councillors.
Procedurally, when a verbal query is posed, then only would a state executive councillor or chief minister, who are representing the state government, offer an answer.
Law proceeded to apologise for the oversight and stressed that all efforts would be made to prevent a recurrence.
Law mentioned that there the technical oversight had involved Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Lim Siew Khim and Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong.
But Lim, who is the state executive councillor for welfare, tore into Ong later, stressing that he had exploited the situation by blaming Lim even before she got a chance to answer the question.
The partial answer was apparently leaked by an outsider to Ong through a screenshot captured on a smartphone.
Lim said that the issue revolves around ethnics, as it was unbecoming for Ong to "criticise" her before she had a chance to see the question and answer in full.
Law then intervened, urging for both parties to understand that the unit in charge of preparing the answers had erred.
"The YB backbenchers should move on."
But Lim was unsatisfied, citing that before she answers more questions, Ong should be reprimanded for indulging in an alleged unethical act.
Ong replied that this is not an issue about ethics, as the question was posed and an answer was given.
The issue, which cause a debate between the two, had revolved around the number of beggars at Komtar.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow later said that there was an online security breach as an outsider should not have access to the information on a secured state site like adun.net.
Later, both Lim and Ong had press briefings outside, trying to justify their actions while Chow stepped in during a tea-break to persuade the two fellow DAP leaders to close ranks and forgive each other.
Chow was joined by fellow DAP backbenchers.- May 21, 2025.
