Umno’s Azhar suspended six months over May 13 remarks

By The Malaysian Insider

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 1 — Penang Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim was today suspended for six months from the state assembly after he refused to retract allegedly seditious remarks made at a legislative sitting earlier this year.

The Umno assemblyman’s suspension also sparked a walkout by his Barisan Nasional (BN) colleagues from the state legislature.

Azhar, who is Penaga assemblyman, had been accused of uttering apparently seditious words and issuing “May 13” threats during a speech to the assembly by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on May 7.

He had warned of May 13 racial riots and suggested the army take over the functions of the police if the latter had lost the confidence of the people.

The Umno man was referred to the assembly’s rights and privileges committee after a motion tabled by Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat).