Opposition to challenge Kit Siang’s suspension

Opposition members of Parliament hold a press conference at the Dewan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur today. The opposition says they will challenge DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang's six-month suspension from Parliament. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, October 22, 2015.

The opposition will file a motion to challenge the decision of the speaker that led to DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang's six-month suspension.

Speaking at a press conference after the suspension, DAP legal head Gobind Singh Deo said it was irregular that the whole issue had been debated under a standing order which failed to refer Lim to Parliament’s rights and privileges committee.

Gobind said complaints involving contempt of the House should be referred to Parliament’s rights and privileges committee.

He added that any move to suspend Lim should have been done via Section 80A of standing orders and that going before the rights and privileges committee would allow a member to present his case and give evidence to the committee.

"Insofar as we are concerned, what happened today was clearly against the standing order.

"So in order to push our view forward, we will file a motion," he said.

Kota Baru PAS MP Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said PAS lawmakers in the House today were against the way Lim was suspended, adding that there was no adherence to parliamentary procedure.

"Lim was not given a chance to explain himself, natural justice was not protected," he said.

Selangor MB Mohamed Azmin Ali said Lim’s suspension was a typical cowardly action by Umno and Barisan Nasional, who were good at defaming but unable to defend their actions with facts.

"They did not give him a chance to defend his rights as an MP, who carries the views of the people.

"This is proof that Umno and BN are not capable of defending their allegations.

"This is Umno for you, cowards," said the PKR Gombak lawmaker.

Azmin added that the biggest issue today was 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and that Lim was the latest victim in efforts to silence those speaking out against the state investor.

"He is the latest victim, and many more will fall prey in our efforts to uncover the truth."

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said it was a black day in Parliament's history when a veteran like Lim, who has been an MP since 1969, was suspended.

He said this was Umno and BN's aim to cover up talk on 1MDB, but added that this would only fuel efforts to discover the truth.

"The people want the truth.

"They can silence Lim, but this will only make the people realise the truth about this scandal."

- TMI