Nurul Izzah wants to speak to Dewan Rakyat about Jacel photos

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar seen at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today. She wants to explain the controversy surrounding her pictures with Sulu representative Jacel Kiram to the Dewan Rakyat instead of the Parliament's Rights and Privileges Committee. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Kamal Arifin, November 27, 2015. 

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar today has offered to explain to the Dewan Rakyat the controversy surrounding her pictures with Sulu representative Jacel Kiram, instead of the Parliament's Rights and Privileges Committee.

Speaking to reporters outside the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, Nurul Izzah said this was because there was never a precedent where a member of parliament (MP) was hauled up by the committee for something that had taken place outside the House.

“I will push for an opportunity to speak and defend myself. I want to address the Dewan and I will make a formal request to address the hall.

“Let everyone hear this, as any action taken against me will impact other MPs,” she said.

She was commenting on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said's statement that Nurul Izzah would be required to explain her meeting with Jacel to the committee.

Nurul Izzah, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, spent about two-hours being questioned by the police over her meeting with Jacel, the daughter of the self-styled Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III. Jamalul is said to be the mastermind behind the Lahad Datu invasion two years ago.

Nurul Izzah was accompanied by her lawyer R. Sivarasa.

Sivarasa agreed with Nurul Izzah and said that the rights and privileges committee was supposed to look into the misconduct within Parliament.

He said it was wrong to haul up an MP for something that was done outside Parliament.

“It is unfortunate that we seem to have a minister in charge of parliamentary affairs who doesn't understand the basic principles and proposed the motion.”

He said if the motion was passed, it would show Malaysia's ignorance over the matter.

“We will argue the position and try to make them understand and hopefully they will withdraw it,” he said.

On Nurul Izzah's statement, Sivarasa said police had yet to open an investigation paper on the lawmaker, as it was taken under the police's inquiry paper.

“They said this is only a police inquiry paper. In other words they're saying it's not a formal investigation.

“They are just in the process of verifying facts and understand the situation. It is not an official investigation.”

Sivarasa said Nurul Izzah had given her full cooperation and provided the necessary information on the case.

- TMI