I support the filing of motion in Parliament to review the Speaker’s rejection of questions and motions concerning the 1MDB scandal.
Three DAP MPs, Nga Kor Ming (Taiping), Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas) and V. Sivakumar (Batu Gajah) have received an ultimatum from the Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, demanding that they make an open apology to him for their remarks about the Speaker’s rejection of an emergency motion on the seizure of the luxury superyacht Equanimity of Jho Low and questions related to the 1MDB scandal or face “stern action”.
Under what section of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders does it give the Speaker the powers to unilaterally decide what is said outside Parliament constituted contempt of the Speaker and empower the Speaker to impose punishments?
The Speaker was ill-advised to send such ultimatum to the three DAP MPs demanding public apology or to face “stern action”.
The Speaker should consult with Parliamentarians from both sides of the divide on matters affecting Parliament and not just consult with the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of parliamentary affairs.
I am prepared to stand corrected, but Pandikar has clearly exceeded his powers in writing such an ultimatum to the three DAP MPs for their remarks outside parliamentary proceedings.
(Media Statement in Parliament on Thursday, 15th March 2018)