PARLIAMENT | Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) has been suspended from parliamentary duties for six months.
The Dewan Rakyat voted to suspend the Bersatu Youth chief today with 110 MPs in favour, 63 against, and three abstaining. Another 46 MPs were absent.
“I will not surrender in fighting,” Wan Fayhsal declared before his microphone was cut off.
After Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul decided on the suspension based on the votes, MPs from the opposition bloc recited the “Qunut Nazilah” prayer (doa).
Such a prayer is read when Muslims are met with misfortune.
The decision came after Wan Fayhsal cited an anonymous letter during parliamentary debates on July 1, that purportedly maligns civil servants using unverified information.
The motion against him stated, among others, that “the Machang MP issued a statement and allegation that is serious and stirs anti-government sentiments.
“Therefore, it is agreed that the Machang MP should be suspended from the meeting and select committees for six months from the date this motion is approved.”
Wan Fayhsal had quoted a letter that named an officer in the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as the purported “mastermind” of the plan to privatise Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd and portrayed the officer in a negative light.
Responding to his suspension, Wan Fayhsal called it a black mark on the country’s parliamentary history.
“I was not even given the chance to defend myself in the house just now,” he said in a statement on Facebook.
He noted that the suspension would force him to miss the tabling of Budget 2025 in October.
During the debates on the motion, Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) was the sole government MP who issued an objection.
The PKR leader joined opposition MPs in calling for Wan Fayhsal to be given the right to defend himself.
However, this was brushed off by both the speaker and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, who said that such a right was not accorded in these circumstances.
Both pointed to historical precedence, while Azalina said, “We are judged by our peers (other MPs)”.
In a posting on X, Pejuang lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali also said that Wan Fayhsal should have been allowed to defend himself as it is a basic right part of natural justice.
“The Dewan Rakyat, which is the legislative forum, should know this… death of democracy!” he said.
EPF officials’ status
In his debate, opposition chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) appealed to Johari to reject the motion as the officer in question is not classified as a civil servant as EPF officials are not included as such in the Federal Constitution.
Syahredzan Johan (Harapan-Bangi), however, disputed this citing Section 69(a) of the EPF Act 1991 which states that members of the board are public servants.
Takiyuddin also said that Wan Fayhsal’s statement was not rebellious in nature.
Azli Yusof (Harapan-Shah Alam), who represented the government, argued that Wan Fayhsal’s statement had not been verified as truth.
“When Wan Fayhsal debated the issue that we are speaking of today, in my opinion, it is something that defiled the sanctity of this august house as it uses information that is not accurate,” he said.
It has called into question the credibility, dignity, and integrity of civil servants, he added.
Sany Hamzan (Harapan-Hulu Langat) interrupted to say that if he had brought an anonymous letter to debate in the Dewan Rakyat, it would show that he has no standards as an elected representative.
‘Don’t open floodgates’
Further, Azalina cautioned that allowing anonymous letters into the house would open “floodgates”.
“Let’s not use anonymous letters because we will open the floodgates and everyone in the Dewan Rakyat will use anonymous letters.
“Now with SMS and artificial intelligence, we don’t know what is real and what is not,” she said.
She pointed out that it was Wan Fayhsal’s responsibility to investigate the content of the letter instead of bringing it to Parliament.
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