Pandikar: I did not suspend Kit Siang, MPs did

Speaker says he cannot not decide to penalise any MP, and that it was done in accordance with the Standing Orders.

KUALA LUMPUR: MPs, not the Speaker, made the decision to suspend Getang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang from the Dewan Rakyat, said Pandikar Amin Mulia.

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker said he himself could not decide arbitrarily to penalise any MP, and that it was done in accordance with the Standing Orders.

“I cannot table a motion. Gelang Patah (MP) was penalised by the MPs. The decision was made in accordance with the Standing Orders as per Article 62 of the Federal Constitution.

“I cannot simply make any interpretation without reference to the rules,” he told reporters at the lobby of Parliament.

The Dewan Rakyat approved a motion today to suspend Lim for six months after he declined to apologise and withdraw an alleged remark against the Speaker.

Pandikar Amin said it should be understood, so as not to confuse the people, that the Speaker had only adhered to the instructions of the MPs.

He said the Speaker had the authority to interpret the Standing Orders.

“Otherwise, the MPs will make their own interpretations. This was evident when almost everyone stood up to state his or her interpretation.

“As such, the interpretation of the Speaker should be taken into account, whether it is accepted or otherwise,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) said the motion to suspend Lim had nothing to do with 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), instead it was a result of Lim’s serious allegation and insult against the Speaker and which was deemed contempt of the Speaker and the House.

“The focus should not be diverted,” he said.

Asked whether Lim was doing so for the sake of public interest and sacrifising himself over the 1MDB issue, Tiong said: “I don’t feel that he is sacrifising himself for the sake of public interest.

“It is obvious that their intention is to create confusion and a sense of sympathy to stir up public emotions, trying to gain political mileage and make the House look bad,” he said, adding that as a seasoned veteran with 40 years experience in the House, there is no way that Lim did not understand the Standing Orders.

He also said the chaos that the opposition MPs created in the House was an attempt to stop the MPs from the ruling coalition to voice their views.

– BERNAMA