KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu went on a warpath against DAP and PKR yesterday which resulted in the opposition staging a walk-out in protest mid-way through Jabu’s introduction of his winding-up speech.

Wong Ho Leng (DAP-Bukit Assek) later told reporters outside the chamber that DAP would boycott the remainder of Jabu’s winding-up speech, saying the deputy chief minister was playing to the gallery.

“This is proven because the moment we left the chambers in protest the proceeding also stopped and went into recess. So it shows that they are playing to the gallery and the only audience is us,” said the State DAP chairman.

He said Barisan Nasional (BN) was trying to engage the opposition in a quarrel but DAP was not going to subscribe to that manner of presentation.

Earlier on Jabu bashed the opposition on several issues including native customary rights (NCR), Sarawak’s 2009 Budget and about respecting the customs and traditions of the Iban community.

Jabu said Penang had no relevance to Sarawak yet the state DAP appeared to be ‘idolising’ Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said DAP was frequently making comparison between the two states and strongly wanted Sarawak to follow the ways of DAP government in Penang.

Jabu said Lim’s 2009 Budget would not reach one sixth of Sarawak’s 2009 Budget and it was absolutely ridiculous for DAP to suggest that Sarawak follow Penang whose budget is much smaller than that of Sarawak.

He said if Sarawak were to adopt Penang’s example, Sarawak would be deprived of its ability to implement many projects, particularly those earmarked for rural areas.

He said DAP wanted Sarawak Budget to be drastically reduced by about seven times smaller much like Penang whose budget was not likely to exceed RM600 million per year.

He said Penang’s state budget was not likely to allocate 40 per cent for development compared to Sarawak’s 2009 Budget which gave 70 per cent for the same purpose.

“Dato Sri Speaker, it is very dangerous and very cruel and indeed very selfish for DAP to suggest that Sarawak follows DAP government of Pulau Pinang,” he said, adding that Sarawak’s Budget by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud provided for RM4.362 billion out of which 70 per cent was for development and this was very much welcomed by the people.

Throughout his speech, the opposition kept interjecting, saying that Jabu had been imputing improper motives and was lying several times.

While Jabu (BN-Layar) refused to give way to the opposition to respond, the opposition kept asking Jabu to stop being repetitive and provocative. One opposition member even mocked Jabu saying that he was “environment-friendly” and that was why he kept re-cycling his statements.

The BN representatives did not remain quiet, but said the truth hurt for the oppositions, hence the rebuttals.

Jabu said he had been very patient with the opposition, saying that he took the pain to talk and explain to them but they refused to listen.

Finally, Speaker Dato Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar had to step in ruling that the deputy chief minister should be listened to in silence and there should be no interruptions when he delivered his winding-up speech.

Jabu resumed, saying the Ibans in Lubok Antu, Sri Aman and Betong had expressed great concern over a sudden death of someone when Pakatan Rakyat de-facto leader Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim visited the area on May 24.

He said the sudden death was because PKR did not observe the adat (customs) of “meresi ulah Anwar Ibrahim” before freely bringing him there and this was regarded as adat ‘Tungkal’ to the community.

The Iban customs referred to is one that requires someone like an ex-convict should be ‘cleansed’ before he could enter the longhouse or he would bring misfortune.

Dominique Ng (Padungan-PKR) stood up to say that Jabu was again imputing improper motives, only to be told by Asfia that Jabu was explaining about ‘adat istiadat’ of the Iban community. Ng even clarified that Anwar should not be labelled as an ex-convict because the latter had been cleared of charges against him.

Not long after this argument, the opposition staged the walk-out in protest.