Pakatan accuses BN of brute force MP suspensions

Karpal was originally to be only reprimanded. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers cried foul today over the impending suspensions of four of its MPs, accusing Barisan Nasional (BN) of attempting to strengthen its parliamentary power through brute majority.

The opposition MPs said they were “shocked” when they saw the inclusion of a motion notice in today’s Order Paper, calling for the six-month suspension of three MPs — Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) and R. Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) — from the House over the Israel-APCO issue.

The three will join Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also facing the boot from the House for six months for claiming earlier this year that public relations consultancy APCO Worldwide had been behind both the 1 Malaysia and One Israel concepts.

Yesterday, Anwar was the only MP recommended for punishment over the issue in the final report by the House’s Rights and Privileges Committee.

Karpal, who is also a committee member, was recommended to receive severe “admonishment” for allegedly insulting Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, the committee’s chairman.

“You witnessed the drama in Parliament just now. Yesterday, when we were in discussion with Karpal, we only received confirmation that he would be admonished.

“But today, we were shocked to see these new recommendations of suspensions. This means, everyday, things change. The facts may be the same as before but today, they want to suspend three others for six months,” Anwar told a press conference in Parliament.

He accused the ruling coalition of using brute majority to bulldoze through their decisions and strengthen their power in Parliament.

“This is why we would like to record our disappointment here and our strong rejection on the Speaker’s agreement to allow this to happen.

“We are aware of the arrogance of Umno-BN but to use the Speaker’s chair as their channel, this is wrong,” he said.

The motion against Karpal, Sivarasa and Azmin by a Minister in the Prime Minister’s department today states that the three had violated Standing Order 85.

The regulation stipulates that any statement recorded before the House’s powerful Rights and Privileges Committee must be embargoed until its final report is tabled before Parliament.

“On December 6, the Gombak MP, through an emergency motion under Standing Order 18(1) had touched on the statements and a letter that was furnished to the committee on December 3.

“The MPs from Bukit Gelugor and Subang had also insulted and violated the rights and privileges of an MP. It is an insult to the House,” it was said on the Order Paper.

The additional suspension orders on the Karpal, Azmin and Sivarasa sparked off further furore within the opposition bench in the House, and dominated much of this morning’s session.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia did not have the opportunity to open the floor for debates on the second reading of the amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 which was scheduled for today.