Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has called for the suspension of Najib Abdul Razak in Parliament over his “stubborn and recalcitrant attitude”.
This comes after the former prime minister saying he will only explain the 1MDB scandal to the Dewan Rakyat after the Johor state polls are concluded, despite being scheduled to explain the matter during tomorrow’s sitting.
“Clearly Najib is placing more importance on campaigning in the Johor state elections, than respect for the supremacy of Parliament and making truthful statements as an MP.
“By choosing to defy the speaker’s directive, he has breached Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Order 43, where the decision of the Speaker is final as to the observance of the rules of order.
“If Najib refuses to retract his stubborn and recalcitrant attitude he should be immediately punished with suspension from Parliament until he complies,” he said in a statement.
The DAP secretary-general said that an immediate suspension was required from Parliament pending Najib being referred to the Committee of Privileges.
Lim questioned Najib’s authority making Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun wait for feedback on the 1MDB issue.
“Does Najib consider ‘Bossku’ to be bigger than the speaker?” he said.
Lim added that the Pekan MP’s claims in the Dewan Rakyat that no public funds were used to pay off 1MDB debts were baseless and had no merit as it was publicly refuted by himself and the Finance Minister Tengku Zaful Abdul Aziz.
Lim, who was the former finance minister, said that according to the Finance Ministry, only RM19.14 billion of funds has been recovered so far and placed in the asset recovery trust account.
This differs from the RM23 billion out of RM52 billion previously claimed by Najib.
Speaking to reporters in Bukit Gambir, Johor today, Najib said he will contact Azhar over the latter’s demand for him to explain the matter during tomorrow’s Parliament sitting.
He said he could only explain to the Dewan Rakyat about his remarks - that 1MDB’s debts were not paid using taxpayers’ money - after the Johor state polls are concluded.
It was reported yesterday that Azhar wrote a letter to Najib asking him to provide an explanation to the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.
The speaker said this when asked in Parliament yesterday for feedback on Tony Pua’s (Pakatan Harapan-Damansara) motion for Najib to be referred to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee under Standing Order 36 (12) of the Dewan Rakyat over the remarks.
Pua submitted the motion following Najib’s speech in the Dewan Rakyat on March 2 which was said to contain statements that allegedly misled the House on the 1MDB debt issue . This could be construed as insulting to the Dewan Rakyat.
Najib had said in Dewan Rakyat when debating the royal address that no public funds were used to pay off 1MDB debts.
However, his statement was refuted by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.
Najib’s statement also drew the ire of former premier Muhyiddin Yassin, who said 1MDB debts are guaranteed by the government and so when 1MDB fails to repay its debts, the government has to fork out money. - Mkini
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