SHAH ALAM: Barisan Nasional assemblymen took a swipe at the Pakatan-led state government by holding up placards that read 'Tak Keluar! Kami Hormat Dewan dan Mandat Rakyat' at the end of the state's 2017 budget presentation today.
The action by assemblymen such as Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan (BN-Batang Kali), Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz (Semenyih), Shahrum Mohd Sharif (Dengkil) as well as Halimaton Saadiah Bohan (Kota Damansara) poked fun at Pakatan MPs who had staged a walkout during the recent federal government budget presentation by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Mat Nadzari said BN assemblymen in Selangor are unlike Pakatan MPs, including Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (PKR-Bukit Antarabangsa) who was one of those who had staged a walkout from Dewan Rakyat.
"We respect the Selangor state legislative assembly and most certainly, the mandate that was given to us as assemblymen by the people.
"We are sincere in helping the people so it is important that we hear the budget presentation from the Menteri Besar himself so that we can debate it. What is the point of walking out during the tabling and only then look through the speeches and debate?
"We may not be agreeable some parts of the budget presentation and we did not act emotionally like they did. We stayed till the end and this shows our commitment and maturity for the sake of the people," he told the New Straits Times.