Perikatan MPs say they are confused by Speaker’s decisions on DNAA issue

KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional MPs are unsure why Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul is allowing Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s court case outcome to be raised in Parliament despite rejecting a motion for a special sitting on the matter.

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said it appeared contradictory.

“My motion was rejected by the Speaker yet I would be given room to raise it.

“I am not sure how much time will be given or how many people can debate,” he told a press conference outside the Dewan Rakyat here on Monday (Sept 11).

Perikatan chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said according to Parliamentary practices, anything related to the Standing Order should be debated after a question-and-answer session for the proceedings of the day.

“Seeing how it is currently a special sitting, with no allocated Q&A session, the right time to debate the motion should be before proceedings of the day, which currently involve the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan.

“Hence, we brought it up but unfortunately this was not agreed to by the Speaker (who promised) Machang could bring up the matter after (House business).

“This is something (that) never happened before. The motion was rejected but the one who filed it will be allowed to bring up (the matter),” he said at the same press conference.

Takiyuddin also claimed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim overstepped his boundaries by saying Ahmad Zahid’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) could not be debated in Parliament.

Anwar was reported to have said this to reporters after Friday prayers at Masjid Jamek Seri Petaling on Friday (Sept 8).

Wan Ahmad Fayshal claimed this gave the impression that the executive arm of the country was protecting Ahmad Zahid.

“That is what the people want to know along with an explanation by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms).

“Why is it that people who commit petty theft are imprisoned but someone who holds the deputy prime minister’s position is seemingly invincible and protected by Parliament, the Speaker and the executive body,” he said.

Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said he also filed a motion to debate Ahmad Zahid being granted a DNAA.

“The answer given to me was the same as what Machang received.

“Seeing how there is no Q&A session today, we should be allowed to raise it,” Shahidan said.

On Friday, Wan Ahmad Fayshal filed an emergency motion to hold a special sitting for the Attorney General to explain the Sept 4 decision to grant Ahmad Zahid a DNAA, saying it was a matter of public interest.

Parliament is scheduled to sit for six days from Monday to table the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan and subsequently debate it.