The opposition’s bid to refer Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee fell through after Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul rejected the motion.
Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan submitted the motion to refer Anwar to the committee on July 24, following the premier’s remarks regarding not pursuing legal action against former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the Pulau Batu Puteh case.
“My motion was rejected on the grounds that it followed the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s (RCI) recommendations.
“But the RCI never said Mahathir was guilty, not at all. So this is yet another lie,” Takiyuddin told the media at the main entrance of the Parliament building today.
In December last year, it was reported that the RCI on Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah, and Tubir Selatan recommended that a criminal investigation be launched against Mahathir.
On July 22, Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that the cabinet decided not to pursue legal action against Mahathir due to his old age, despite admitting that the former prime minister was “wrong”.
Mahathir had just turned 100 on July 10.
When Takiyuddin filed the motion, he asserted that the speaker had “no reasonable excuse” to reject it.
“Article 143 of the Federal Constitution states that the attorney-general must have the power to - at his discretion - initiate, conduct, or halt legal proceedings for any offence.
“How is it within the prime minister’s power to accuse or charge anyone? Is this confirmation from the prime minister on his interference in legal affairs?” he asked at the time.
‘Judge, jury and executioner’
Takiyuddin today accused Anwar of trying to become “the judge, jury, and executioner” on the matter.
“By right, he (Anwar) should lodge a police report for an investigation to commence and leave the rest to the attorney-general.
“However, he is now doing the job of the police, AG, and court... he is everything,” he added. - Mkini
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