Explain ‘misleading’ statement now, not after Johor polls, MP tells Najib

 

RSN Rayer says Najib Razak’s decision to put off his reply implied that he did not want to give any explanation to the Dewan Rakyat.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak must explain his remarks on debts incurred by 1MDB to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee now and not wait until after the Johor polls, an opposition MP told the Dewan Rakyat.

RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) said this following a news report by MalaysiaKini today, which stated that the Pekan MP would explain his remarks – that 1MDB debts were not paid using taxpayer funds – after the Johor state elections on March 12.

“It might be too late (for Najib to explain himself after the Johor polls),” he said.

Rayer added that he still holds Najib accountable for allegedly misleading the Dewan Rakyat over the issue of 1MDB’s debts last week.

“I will not let Pekan make a fool of this honourable Dewan and continue lying. I will demand that action be taken against Pekan if he refuses to provide any explanation.”

Yesterday, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun said he had asked Najib to explain his remarks to the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.

Rayer had earlier sought feedback from Azhar on Tony Pua’s (PH-Damansara) motion that Najib be referred to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee over the 1MDB debt remarks.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the former prime minister was clearly in contempt of Parliament when he said he would only provide an explanation to the Dewan Rakyat after the Johor elections.

“By choosing to defy the Speaker’s directive, Najib breached Dewan Rakyat Standing Order 43, where the decision of the Speaker is final as to observance of the rules of order,” he said in a statement. - FMT