Opposition Leader Anwar barred from testifying over APCO accusation

PETALING JAYA, Dec 3 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not be allowed to testify over his remarks linking Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia to One Israel, Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee decided today.

The committee’s decision was seen as an attempt to hasten Anwar’s suspension from Parliament, said DAP chairman Karpal Singh (picture) today.

The Bukit Gelugor MP said the powerful committee decided to rely solely on a letter from public relation consultancy APCO and not to call other witnesses and Anwar to testify.

The decision prompted Karpal and Subang MP R. Sivarasa to leave the committee meeting.

“Me and Siva have no alternative but to withdraw,” Karpal told a press conference.

He also complained that APCO’s letter, which he refused to disclose, was only submitted to the committee this morning.

The powerful committee is chaired by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia. Karpal and Sivarasa are the only opposition MPs in the committee. The other members are Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, Muar MP Datuk Razali Ibrahim, Alor Gajah MP Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn and Batang Sadong MP Nancy Shukri.

“In my view the Rights and Privileges Committee has abdicated from its responsibilities,” said Karpal.

He revealed that Razali suggested that the committee continue its proceedings without calling witnesses or Anwar to testify, and this was supported by Fong.

“The issue needs to be investigated, cannot be based on a letter and without calling witnesses and not allowing Anwar to testify,” said Sivarasa.

“Given what has happened, we can expect the impending punishment,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anwar described the decision today contradicted Pandikar’s assurance when allowing the motion to refer him to the committee.

“The Speaker had given an assurance that when an MP is referred to the committee, the member would be called to testify,” said Anwar.

“APCO is very powerful that one letter can overturn all our testimonies,” he added.

The Malaysian Insider had reported last month that Anwar would likely be suspended from December 15 following recommendation from the Rights and Privileges Committee for his remarks linking the Najib’s 1 Malaysia to former Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s One Israel.

The move is believed to be a strategic attempt by the ruling BN coalition to throw the opposition momentarily off guard ahead of an expected general election, believed likely to be held in the first quarter of next year.

It is also believed to be a form of reprisal by the federal government after similar moves by Pakatan Rakyat administrations in Selangor and Penang to suspend BN opposition leaders from their state assemblies.

Anwar had initially been summoned to face the House committee on June 8 after he claimed that the supposedly Israeli-linked APCO Worldwide employed by the Najib administration was behind both the 1 Malaysia and One Israel concepts.

His remarks had dominated the previous parliamentary session earlier this year and had been used incessantly by opposition leaders as campaign fodder during the Hulu Selangor and Sibu by-elections.

Anwar’s hearing before the committee was, however, put off when the leader insisted on being accompanied by legal counsel — former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan.

He was later allowed to be accompanied by Ambiga under strict instructions that the latter would not be allowed to speak during the proceedings.

Despite this, Anwar’s hearing was put off and the matter had not been raised until this morning.

Any decision made by the Rights and Privileges Committee is subject to the endorsement of the Dewan Rakyat. - Malaysian Insider