Speaker rules against use of media reports, social media posts during debates

PARLIAMENT

 | Any statements based solely on media reports or social media postings shall not be raised during debates in the Dewan Rakyat.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof (above) made the ruling during opposition leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob's speech to debate the royal address this morning.

"I have ruled that any media report or social media report not backed by any other solid facts, shall not be raised in the Dewan Rakyat.

"I have made the ruling, and my ruling must be followed," said Mohamad Ariff, after accepting an objection raised by RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) against Ismail.

Mohamad Ariff said he made his ruling today because he had accepted PAS lawmakers' objections yesterday against Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (Harapan-Johor Bahru).

Akmal was citing news reports on MACC's move to seize assets of several PAS leaders.

Ismail Sabri earlier triggered an uproar after he attempted to question Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng's alleged involvement in the Penang undersea tunnel project, based on a posting by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

The opposition leader tried to seek clarification on Raja Petra's posting, but was interjected by Rayer who accused him of attempting to cast negative aspersions towards Lim.

"I am just reading a post by Raja Petra... It (the project) involves hundreds of millions of ringgit in public funds," Ismail (below) insisted.

Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) later urged the Speaker to reconsider his ruling as he argued that there were many times in the past where media reports and social media postings were referred to in the Dewan Rakyat, including on allegations linked to the 1MDB scandal.

The Kuala Krau MP, who is a former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, also insisted that Ismail Sabri should be allowed to question Lim, who would then have the opportunity to respond during his own speech.

Ramkarpal Singh (Harapan-Bukit Gelugor), however, pointed out that a Speaker's ruling could not be challenged by any member of the House unless through the tabling of a separate motion.

After about 15 minutes, Ismail, who did not withdraw his initial statement, was allowed to proceed with his speech on a different subject. - Mkini