MP seeks to refer Willie to privileges committee

 

PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat speaker's office has been notified that a motion will be filed to censure Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities Willie Mongin (PN-Puncak Borneo).

According to the letter by Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, the motion was designed to refer Willie to the rights and privileges committee for allegedly flashing his middle finger twice at other MPs yesterday.

Khoo's motion said that Willie's behaviour had breached Standing Order 36(4) and 41(a) which governed the conduct of MPs in the House.

Khoo urged Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun to view this as a serious matter and take action to maintain the integrity of the Dewan Rakyat.

Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat today, Khoo sought a ruling from Azhar to censure Willie. However, Azhar explained that he did not see the alleged act.

Moreover, Azhar said he had reviewed the video recording several times in slow motion but could not determine if the allegations were true. Azhar said he even quizzed Willie himself, who denied making the gesture.

After the sitting, Khoo led several other MPs to a meeting with Azhar, where the latter were shown photographs which allegedly contained incriminating evidence.

The alleged middle-finger salute from Willie was supposed to have taken place when the MPs were voting on the development expenditure for the Plantation and Commodities Ministry at the committee stage.

Willie, who conducted the winding-up speech on behalf of minister Khairuddin Aman Razali, was allegedly irked by chants of pengkhianat (traitor) coming from the opposition bench.

In February 2020, Willie was among 10 MPs who switched sides from PKR in a political manoeuvre known as the "Sheraton Move", which caused the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration.

Willie is a first-time MP. - Mkini