DAP MPs stand by call to Pandikar to resign

Nga says MPs are duty-bound to provide checks and balance to the executive, which is the government

KUALA LUMPUR: The three opposition MPs who demanded the Dewan Rakyat speaker to resign are standing by their statement.

Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) said they were merely performing their duty by asking questions and filing motions in Parliament, which is the highest legislative chamber in the country.

“Let us make it very clear. As elected MPs, our main duty is to check on the government. MPs are not puppets.

“We are duty-bound to provide checks and balance to the executive, which is the government,” he said during a press conference at the media centre in Dewan Rakyat today.

Nga, V Sivakumar (Batu Gajah) and Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas) had called on Pandikar Amin Mulia to resign for disallowing an emergency motion to debate the seizure of the Equanimity yacht by Indonesian authorities in Bali.

The super yacht was detained by the Indonesian authorities at the request of the US Department of Justice (DoJ) investigating funds allegedly stolen from the government’s investment fund, 1MDB. It has been handed over to the FBI.

The luxury yacht is also said to be linked to Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

The demand by the DAP trio to ask for Pandikar to resign prompted the Barisan Nasional Back Benchers Club (BNBBC) to call for them to be cited for contempt of Parliament.

BNBBC chairman Shahrir Abdul Samad said their statement contained elements of judgment and presumption as they had accused the speaker of covering up a corruption case by rejecting their motion to debate the seizure of the yacht.

However, Nga said he had in the past asked questions relating to 1MDB and on many occasions filed motions on the issue.

He claimed none of the questions or motions had been allowed for the past three years.

“Under the standing orders, the speaker’s decisions are deemed as final.

“But let us remind the speaker that all the decisions made by him must be exercised judicially, and not arbitrarily,” he pointed out.

Nga said the speaker should rise to the occasion to protect the integrity of the Dewan Rakyat, otherwise the Malaysian Parliament will be looked upon as one of the most shameful institutions in the world. -FMT