Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar was reduced to tears today as Parliament voted to take disciplinary action over her meeting with a Sulu separatist leader's daughter in Manila a few months ago.
The Lembah Pantai MP was referred to the parliamentary rights and privileges committee as Putrajaya claimed she had gone against her oath as an MP to protect the country and defend the Constitution, when she met Jacel Kiram, the daughter of self-proclaimed Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III, who was behind the Sabah incursion in 2013.
The debate preceding the vote saw a lot of shouting from both sides but with the ruling party having the numbers in the chamber, the vote ensured the PKR vice-president will face disciplinary action.
The vote saw 105 MPs being in favour of the motion with 77 against.
At the start of the debate, the PKR vice-president explained that she went to the Philippines on November 9 and 10 at the invitation of the government.
She said one of the events she attended was a dinner organised by the Council of Philippines Affairs and the Asian Institute of Democracy, the office of the Manila mayor Joseph Estrada and the office of the Philippines vice-president in support of the call by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention calling for the release of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from prison.
She said that group photos were also organised and she took pictures with all who attended the programme.
Nurul Izzah said Jacel Kiram was one of 15 guests at the dinner, and was told that Jacel was a Philippine congress candidate under a United Nationalist Alliance ticket, stressing that she had not planned to meet Jacel beforehand.
“I am sorry and apologise especially to all the families of the victims of Lahad Datu, the people of Sabah and all Malaysians who were angry with the photo.
“Seven years ago, I took an oath to defend this country we love, the Federal Constitution and the people from any bad elements from outside or inside the country, "Nurul Izzah said.
“And I have done everything to the best of my ability to uphold the trust the people have placed in me,” she said, tears welling in her eyes.
However, the next to debate the motion, Datuk Raime Unggi (Tenom-BN) accused the Lembah Pantai MP of putting on an act with her show of remorse and accused the opposition of putting political interest above the country's sovereignty.
He also referred to the opposition as hypocrites,which drew strong objection from the other side, with opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail demanding that he take retract his accusation.
Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong), in debating the motion, said at least Nurul Izzah was explaining her actions to the House, and compared this to the prime minister who failed to show up to explain the RM2.6 billion funds in his personal accounts.
“They say we are hypocrites, but at least she dares to explain herself.
“This is in contrast to the other side, there is the RM2.6 billion issue... disgraceful conduct,” he said.
This caused Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling-BN) to stand up and say: “They were holding up the free Anwar poster. That is what we are angry about.”
He also asked why Gobind was speaking on behalf of Nurul Izzah.
This drew an immediate retort from Gobind who said: “This is an abuse of parliamentary process, he just said this is not about Sabah, it is about Anwar.
“Don't you see the difference, she also stood up to answer the allegations. Where is your prime minister?” Gobind asked.
R.Sivarasa (Subang-PKR), in debating the motion, warned the MPs not to start a bad precedent in allowing personal conduct on the outside to be referred to the rights committee.
He also said that Nurul Izzah had clearly stated the facts of what happened and that no one was able to challenge it.
“This is harassment of Lembah Pantai, and Tanjung Karang and Baling have said this is not about Sabah, it's about the ‘free Anwar’ placard,” he added. – TMI
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