“It is my responsibility as a MP.”
This was Pasir Mas Independent MP Ibrahim Ali's explanation as to why he had raised the question of Batu MP Tian Chua's status in the Dewan Rakyat.
“I consider (myself) as a quite senior MP because I joined Parliament in 1986 so I have to uphold the integrity of Parliament,” Ibrahim said in the Parliament lobby today.
He said he wrote to the Speaker's Office on June 6 to point out that Chua should be dropped as MP because the federal constitution clearly states that a member of parliament can be disqualified if fined no less than RM2,000 by a court.
The Kuala Lumpur
High Court had, last year, dismissedChua's appeal against the conviction, after he had been found guilty for biting a police personnel while being detained in 2007.
The judge, however, reduced the RM3,000 fine and six-month jail term imposed by the Magistrate's Court in October 2009 to a RM2,000 fine or two months jail.
The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal, throwing open the question of his status as MP.
Said Ibrahim: “If you ask me, it's only (a matter of) formality where the Speaker puts the motion in Parliament in line with Article 48, so my purpose is (not related) to politics (and neither is it) personal.
“I just brought up the matter because I feel I'm responsible as MP. (This is) after I read a (past) statement by deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar, who said any MP should raise this matter in Parliament because it's a question of law, it's a question of the Parliament's integrity.
“I'm not creating problems, I'm just doing my job. These are also people who are fighting to uphold the justice (and) truth.”
He said the opposition would have done the same if a BN MP were involved.
This morning, Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said his office is checking with the Attorney-General's Chamber before he gives a decisionnext week on Chua's status as MP.
'My words twisted'
Ibrahim was also asked to comment on what minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, in his capacity as BNchief whip, had earlier said - that it would be a dishonourable act to try to disqualify Chua.
Ibrahim replied that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
He initially refuse
d to speak to reporters who approached him to ask about the Standing Order he had cited in the Dewan Rakyat when referring the speaker to Chua's status.
Ibrahim responded rudely, saying his statements are often “twisted and spinned [sic]” by the media.
“I hope all the newspapers report all the statements correctly and (will) be fair. There are good statements from us (that don't) appear, but if there are statements (with) little bit of controversy, they spin off [sic] and people get the wrong message (about) what I said.
“So I remind (the media) again, please write it properly. I'm not hard-up for the publicity as far as I'm concerned.
“Whether there (are newspapers) or not I'm not interested because I can survive in politics... my struggle, 30 years in politics, (so) I don't need to cry to certain papers or news portals. I just want (the media) to be fair.”
He heads Malay rights pressure group Perkasa and has been lambasted in all quarters in recent days for contentious remarks relating to the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9. Earlier today, though, he had revelled in the reaction to the controversy. - Malaysiakini
This was Pasir Mas Independent MP Ibrahim Ali's explanation as to why he had raised the question of Batu MP Tian Chua's status in the Dewan Rakyat.
“I consider (myself) as a quite senior MP because I joined Parliament in 1986 so I have to uphold the integrity of Parliament,” Ibrahim said in the Parliament lobby today.
He said he wrote to the Speaker's Office on June 6 to point out that Chua should be dropped as MP because the federal constitution clearly states that a member of parliament can be disqualified if fined no less than RM2,000 by a court.
The Kuala Lumpur
High Court had, last year, dismissedChua's appeal against the conviction, after he had been found guilty for biting a police personnel while being detained in 2007. The judge, however, reduced the RM3,000 fine and six-month jail term imposed by the Magistrate's Court in October 2009 to a RM2,000 fine or two months jail.
The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal, throwing open the question of his status as MP.
Said Ibrahim: “If you ask me, it's only (a matter of) formality where the Speaker puts the motion in Parliament in line with Article 48, so my purpose is (not related) to politics (and neither is it) personal.
“I just brought up the matter because I feel I'm responsible as MP. (This is) after I read a (past) statement by deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar, who said any MP should raise this matter in Parliament because it's a question of law, it's a question of the Parliament's integrity.
“I'm not creating problems, I'm just doing my job. These are also people who are fighting to uphold the justice (and) truth.”
He said the opposition would have done the same if a BN MP were involved.
This morning, Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said his office is checking with the Attorney-General's Chamber before he gives a decisionnext week on Chua's status as MP.
'My words twisted'
Ibrahim was also asked to comment on what minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, in his capacity as BNchief whip, had earlier said - that it would be a dishonourable act to try to disqualify Chua.
Ibrahim replied that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
He initially refuse
d to speak to reporters who approached him to ask about the Standing Order he had cited in the Dewan Rakyat when referring the speaker to Chua's status. Ibrahim responded rudely, saying his statements are often “twisted and spinned [sic]” by the media.
“I hope all the newspapers report all the statements correctly and (will) be fair. There are good statements from us (that don't) appear, but if there are statements (with) little bit of controversy, they spin off [sic] and people get the wrong message (about) what I said.
“So I remind (the media) again, please write it properly. I'm not hard-up for the publicity as far as I'm concerned.
“Whether there (are newspapers) or not I'm not interested because I can survive in politics... my struggle, 30 years in politics, (so) I don't need to cry to certain papers or news portals. I just want (the media) to be fair.”
He heads Malay rights pressure group Perkasa and has been lambasted in all quarters in recent days for contentious remarks relating to the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9. Earlier today, though, he had revelled in the reaction to the controversy. - Malaysiakini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.