Motion to refer Security Bill to PSC rejected

The motion to refer the much-criticised Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 to a parliamentary select committee (PSC) has been rejected by the Dewan Rakyat.

Confusion rose when deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee, on instructions from speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, told R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) that only the "details" of the motion could be reviewed by the PSC.

This, Kiandee (left) said, was because the Bill had passed the second reading or the policy stage debate.

This was in contrast to what Pandikar had promised yesterday, telling Sivarasa that his motion under Standing Order 55(1) to send the Bill to the PSC to "discuss the details of the Bill as well as its merits and principles" before it is presented for its second reading.

According to Pandikar, the second reading of the Bill literally meant the second time the Bill is debated in the House, hence the third reading would be at the committee stage debate, which was when Sivarasa could present his motion.

Despite Sivarasa's objection, Kiandee insisted that the motion must be read under Standing Order 55(2) as the House had wrapped up the policy debates and the committee stage debate would be limited to looking at "only details" and not touch on the substance of the Bill.

[More to follow]