GEORGE TOWN, Nov 19 — Penang’s state executive councillor for environment Phee Boon Poh accused today Sungai Acheh assemblyman Datuk Mahmud Zakaria of being insensitive to other races by deliberately questioning a Chinese custom during the recent Hungry Ghost month, which was also when Malaysia was choked by thick haze.

Phee who is also DAP lawmaker for Sungai Puyu claimed Mahmud’s question in the state legislative assembly on why the state had allowed devotees of the Chinese festival to carry on with openly burning effigies and prayer paraphernalia when the air quality was bad during that period, amounted to religious bigotry.

“He has touched on an issue of culture and religion where devotees have to burn effigies and other prayer items for the festival. How can he be questioning a religious practice?” Phee asked in his winding up speech.

To this, Mahmud stood up to explain that he did not know that the open burning by Hungry Ghost Festival devotees was a religious practice.

“I saw your reply that it was a religious practice and I am satisfied with this reply,” he said.

However, Phee continued upbraiding Mahmud and even branded the latter “tidak pandai” (not smart) towards the Taoists who observed the Hungry Ghost month, for asking such a question.

However, backbencher Cheah Kah Peng cut in and pointed the importance of following the rule of law.

“I am a Buddhist and Taoist so I think it is fitting for me to comment on this issue and I feel that it is practical to resolve open burning issues during religious festivals like Hungry Ghost when it might affect the health of the public. People have died from lung infections due to the haze,” the PKR representative for Kebun Bunga said.

He proposed that the devotees be educated first on this issue of reducing open burning during haze and this can only be followed by warnings, notices before stern action is taken.

Mahmud also stood up to defend himself by stating again that he didn’t know it was a religious practice to openly burn prayer items.

“I didn’t know that you didn’t know,” Phee replied which elicited laughter from the floor.

Later at a press conference outside, Mahmud accused Phee of intentionally politicising and exaggerating his oral question.

“The reason I asked this question was because I didn’t know, otherwise I wouldn’t ask it but he made it sound as if I’m racist and intentionally picking on another religion’s practices,” he explained.

He pointed out that he received Phee’s answers to his oral question and he was satisfied with it so he did not mention it during his debate.

He said by right, according to the House regulations, state executive councillors can only give straightforward replies to issues raised and not debate about it.

“All I want was an answer and he gave me an answer and that’s all but he went further to use it to attack me instead,” he said.