After Parliament, flap over English use hits Sabah assembly

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 23 — Debate in the Sabah legislative assembly heated up briefly today over the use of English, similar to the arguments raised in Parliament last week, forcing Speaker Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali to call for time to make a ruling.

The commotion started when Tamparuli state assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing who had the floor, demanded the Speaker make a ruling on the language in the law-making house.

He said it was within Sabah and Sarawak’s rights to speak in either language and wanted an official ruling on the matter but was interrupted before he finished his statement.

Lawmakers came down on Bumburing for raising the issue unnecessarily, including Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin (BN-Petaga) who said that it was not an issue to use either language and it was normal to use English provided they said “minta izin” (asked for permission) first.

BN’s Karanaan representative Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that a ruling is superfluous as it is clearly stated in the Sabah State Assembly standing orders that both language was acceptable.

“There is no problem. There is already a provision for both languages to be spoken. There is no need for the Dewan to make a new ruling on something that is already clear,” he said.

Datuk Teo Chee Kang, who is Tanjung Kapor assemblyman also weighed in, saying it was “obvious” it was allowed, and there was no need for permission to speak in English.

“As an example, civil courts in Sabah are also able to speak in English and Malay. No permission is required. Just speak it,” he said.

However, Speaker Syed Abas said that in his experience as an assemblyman since 1979, most discussions were always done in Bahasa Malaysia and assemblymen who wanted to speak in English would “minta izin” (seek permission), first.

After the uproar, he asked for more time to think about the issue before deciding on whether or not to make a ruling.

Later, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan said that uttering “minta izin’’ was only a courteous gesture, and not a requirement.

“Yee Moh Chai and DAP’s Jimmy Wong also speaks in English and it has never been an issue with the House,” he said, referring to the former deputy chief minister and former Api-Api representative and Sabah DAP chief Wong.

National news agency Bernama reported of a commotion in Dewan Rakyat last week when Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) raised the issue of the right of Sabah and Sarawak MPs to speak in English.

Chong, who commenced his debate speech in Bahasa Malaysia and then switched to English, stated that the right was enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution.

However, Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee interrupted and told Chong that he had to seek the consent of the Speaker to speak in English.

Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was later reported as saying that English or other languages, apart from the national language, could be used by MPs when participating in a debate or making a speech in Parliament so long as they had the permission of the Speaker.

A day after the uproar, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem announced that the state has adopted English as an official language of the state administration.