KUALA LUMPUR — Opposition MPs were given a chance to air their grouses over their failed attempts to debate the discontinuation of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s (Bagan Datuk-BN) graft trial in the Dewan Rakyat, today.
Several Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs had stood up to state their dissatisfaction with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, who they accused of “backtracking” on his promise to give the floor to MPs who wished to move a motion on the deputy prime minister’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands-BN) had allowed the MPs to state their stance on the matter, presiding over the approximately 25-minute back-and-forth in a relatively calm manner.
Barring interjections from a few government MPs, the opposition were allowed to make their case, following which Ramli said that they could bring up the matter again once Johari returns to chair today’s meeting at 11.30am.
Responding to MPs who expressed their dissatisfaction with Johari’s act yesterday, Ramli pointed out that after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) had finished tabling the 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP) Mid-Term Review (MTR), no opposition MP had stood up and cited a Standing Order to ask for the floor.
“I was in the House yesterday…after Tambun (Anwar) tabled the day’s order of business and (Johari) spoke, no one stood up. Neither Machang (Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal) nor Arau (Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim) stood up.
“When the Speaker raised his mallet and pup (banged the gavel), that (marks) the end of time.
“However, I don’t deny that there is still leeway for MPs (to push for an emergency motion),” Ramli said.
He added that Shahidan’s second submission for an emergency motion calling for the attorney-general to explain Zahid’s DNAA has been received, although there is no decision yet on whether to appeal will be allowed.
Yesterday, chaos erupted in the lower House from the very start of the sitting when Johari told Wan Fayhsal, who is also Bersatu Youth chief, that he will only be given a chance to speak after Anwar had tabled the agenda for the sitting.
Following Anwar’s tabling of the 12MP MTR, Johari postponed the sitting to today, inciting yet another uproar as opposition MPs demanded the speaker to adhere to his promise to allow them to present motions.
In a press conference at the Parliament lobby later, Wan Fayhsal alleged that Johari had been given “new instructions” to prevent the opposition from raising their qualms, forcing the speaker to not give them the floor to raise issues over Zahid’s DNAA.
Last Monday, Zahid was granted a DNAA on all 47 of his corruption, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering charges involving his foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi. He was also charged with accepting bribes when he was the home minister between 2013 and 2018.
The call was met with severe criticism from certain quarters, including the youth-based party Muda, which has since pulled support from the unity government. — September 12, 2023