Pandikar: Parliament is best place to discuss 1MDB, but...

Three days after the Dewan Rakyat was accused of abetting a government cover up on 1MDB, speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia in a rare moment today agreed with Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo that Parliament is the best place to discuss the state investment firm. 

In a press conference in the Parliament media room, Pandikar, however, said there are rules that must be followed. 

"Puchong (Gobind) said 'the best place to discuss 1MDB is Parliament.'

"Yes, I agree with you (Gobind), but it is subject to rules and procedures.

"If the questions are accusations, assumptions, offensive, or made up, of course, I will throw it out," the speaker said. 

The opposition on Monday made a ruckus in the lower house after more than 30 1MDB-related questions were rejected. 

However, Pandikar pointed out that 19 questions about 1MDB have been approved to be included in House proceedings. 

The questions that were rejected he said, all violated standing orders. 

Among the reasons he cited was that questions in the House can't be sub judiceand affect court cases such as the civil forfeiture suits brought on by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). 

Responding to critics, he said the standing orders did not restrict the definition of court cases to those only in Malaysia. 

"Standing Order 36(2) doesn't say only Malaysian courts. It doesn't say cases being heard in Malaysia only but not the US, no," he said.

He added that the world is "different" now due to technological advances and that anything he says will be quickly disseminated, thus necessitating a ruling to be made at his discretion, as per the standing orders. 

Those who insist that the sub judiceruling is limited to Malaysia, he said, should not then cite foreign matters such as the early day motion on 1MDB submitted in the British House of Commons. 

Meanwhile, on whether motions to review his decision to reject the 30 questions would be debated, Pandikar said he would like to see that happen.

However, he again turned to the standing orders, which states that government business takes precedence in the lower house. 

Thus he said, those who do want to see their motions debated, should take it up with the government.  - Mkini