Speaker torpedoes plans for Scorpene lawyer’s briefing in Parliament

Pandikar said the BNBBC complaint against the Scorpene briefing was to safeguard the “sovereignty” of Parliament. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has disallowed a French lawyer who was invited by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, from holding a briefing at the Briefing Room in Parliament Building tomorrow.

The Speaker stated this in an official letter to Anwar today. Copies of the letter were distributed to reporters by opposition Member of Parliament Tian Chua.

In the letter, Pandikar said there was a formal protest from the Barisan Nasional Back Benchers Club (BNBBC) against inviting the lawyer to give a briefing on the purchase of Scorpene submarines.

He said the protest was in line with safeguarding the sovereignty and good name of the institution of Parliament.

Pandikar Amin explained that he had made a final decision on the matter at the Dewan Rakyat sitting on November 8, in the interest of the security of Parliament.

He noted that up till now, he had not received an official letter from Anwar, seeking permission to invite the French lawyer to Parliament for the briefing. — Bernama