Harapan MPs rap Pandikar for 'playing politics'

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has been accused of playing politics by not following through with a debate after the motion to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 was tabled.

Marang MP Abdul Hadi Awang tabled the motion, followed by a lengthy secondment speech by Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan. Following this, the Dewan Rakyat sitting was adjourned and the debate on the motion postponed.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, also the Pandan MP, described the afternoon proceedings at the Dewan Rakyat today as a "theatre".

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, also the Bagan MP, accused Pandikar of allowing Parliament as a stage for "playing politics" today.

"You brought up a motion without allowing the House to vote for it, that is rather unusual. This is history in the making.

"BN component parties (seem to) know what was happening, but we were in the dark," he said.

Meanwhile, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Muhyiddin Yassin said the speaker should allow the lawmakers to debate and vote on Act 355.

"Give a chance to the parliamentarians. How do you know if many of us want to support it.

"Now, it is as though we have been played," said the former deputy prime minister.

Malaysia needs closure

Meanwhile, Rafizi said Harapan would be holding a mock Dewan Rakyat sitting to allow their members to explain their position on Abdul Hadi's motion. He said the session will be aired live over the internet.

"We will do exactly the same way (as Dewan Rakyat did today).

"The public will be able to see our response and how the debate would have taken place if the speaker had been fair," he added.

The opposition would not notify police for its mock parliament session, which will be held at a studio, according to Rafizi.

He said nine opposition lawmaker, who were assigned to debate the motion today, will be participating.

To a question on why opposition preferred the House to debate the motion today instead of deferring it to the next sitting on July 24, Amanah lawmaker Khalid Samad said the opposition wants a closure to this issue.

"If you don't debate and vote on it, the issue is still hanging," he said.- Mkini