KUALA LUMPUR – Parliament speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul has maintained the decision to ban the entry of suspended lawmakers into the Dewan Rakyat chambers.
According to Johari, the restriction would also mean that suspended MPs would not be allowed to sit in the public gallery during Dewan Rakyat sessions.
However, he clarified that they would still be allowed on the rest of Parliament’s premises and could watch the live feed.
This decision would apply to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal (Machang-PN), who is suspended from parliamentary sittings for six months.
Johari’s decision was made following an appeal from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN) who referred to an October 15 letter by the speaker prohibiting the Machang MP from sitting in the public gallery.
Takiyuddin said Standing Order 44(5) only prohibits suspended MPs from participating in parliamentary sessions and does not disallow them from sitting in the gallery.
“The opposition views your instructions as unreasonable and not in compliance (with the rules).
“The public gallery is for those who are not MPs. The honourable Machang can’t speak in the public gallery. So we urge a review of the decision,” Takiyuddin said in Parliament today.
The Machang MP was suspended from the Dewan Rakyat on July 18 after referencing a poison-pen letter naming the alleged mastermind of the Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) privatisation deal.
He made the reference on July 1 during the debate on the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission for 2021 and 2022.
He also disclosed the name of the individual mentioned in the anonymous letter as an employee of the Employees Provident Fund.
The motion to suspend him from Dewan Rakyat proceedings and Parliamentary Special Select Committee meetings received 110 votes in favour and 63 votes against, while three MPs abstained, and 46 were absent. – October 28, 2024