‘Mahfuz has no right to approach the King’

Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar claims that the Pokok Sena MP jumped the gun by attempting to approach the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

PETALING JAYA: Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar should have followed the usual procedure in calling for a Dewan Rakyat session instead of calling for an emergency session and approaching the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

“There is a Parliament session scheduled in mid-March to April if Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak does not approach the King for dissolution of Parliament.

“It is not correct on his part to attempt to approach the King. Mahfuz jumped the gun,” said Wan Junaidi.

He was commenting on Mahfuz’s call for an emergency parliamentary session to be made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdul Halim Shah to discuss the allegation made by carpet trader, Deepak Jaikishan last year.

“Deepak’s claim has tarnished the good name of this country. Hence it is important for us to send a memorandum to the King who is the head of the government.

“The allegations puts a scar on the King’s credibility,” said Mahfuz during a press conference at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Last year, Deepak claimed that he was involved in withdrawing the first statutory declaration (SD) made by private investigator P Balasubramaniam.

The first SD implicated Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the death of Mongolian model-cum- translator Altantuya Shaaribu.

Deepak also claimed that he was involved in the second SD that freed Najib of the allegation.

Wan Junaidi said that Mahfuz should have approached Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“Anwar can then approach Najib to bring the matter to the Dewan. If it is a matter of public importance, a notice would be given and the Speaker would decide whether the issue should be discussed,” he said.