KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat today after the House approved a motion to refer Bersatu MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan (Tasek Gelugor-PN) to Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee for previous remarks against the government.
Perikatan Nasional (PN) walked out with some shouting “tyranny of the majority” as Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul called for a voice vote.
In February and March, Wan Saiful told the Dewan Rakyat of alleged offers to drop his corruption charges in exchange for his support of the government.
Parliament, which convened today for its second meeting of its third session, saw a motion tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to refer Wan Saiful to the rights and privileges committee for those remarks.
Minutes before the speaker adjourned the lower House for lunch after the motion was approved, opposition MPs walked out in protest over the motion, which Bersatu chief whip Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran-PN) earlier accused of going against Standing Orders.
Ronald referred to Standing Order 23(1)(g) on how a question shall not be drafted in a way which could prejudice a case under trial and 36(2) preventing reference to sub judice matters.
The Bersatu vice-president raised concerns over the committee potentially breaching the Standing Orders if Johari allowed the motion, highlighting that it specifically states that Wan Saiful had mentioned a matter that is under the court’s consideration and could potentially affect parties in the case.
“Under the Standing Orders, sub judice matters cannot be handled by the committee, which is an extension of this Dewan. You (Johari) are disrespecting the Standing Orders, why are you allowing this?” Ronald said.
“Don’t try to use your (the government’s) majority to bulldoze your way through a matter that contradicts the Standing Orders. Whether the matter involves us or our friends on the other side, the speaker must uphold the rules of the House as its custodian.
“This is a defective motion! Don’t allow it (to be passed) just because we (the opposition) are the minority here,” he added.
In response to Ronald’s arguments, Johari said that he had previously written to Wan Saiful before allowing the motion to be included in the orders for today’s meeting, noting that the lawmaker had failed to reply despite being provided with additional time to do so.
“(Wan Saiful’s failure to respond) shows that I have no choice. We are not punishing nor passing judgement on anyone. We are asking for (Wan Saiful) to explain to the committee, which will then make a decision – not me,” Johari said before instructing Azalina to table the motion.
Amid shouts of discontent from the opposition bench, Johari was heard asserting that the motion does not contradict any Standing Orders.
However, Wan Saiful later accused the speaker of lying, claiming he had never received a letter regarding the motion as Johari had only written to him requesting evidence for a separate motion filed by the lawmaker.
“What you (Johari) said is not true, I responded to your letter on an entirely different matter. I’d like you to retract your statement,” Wan Saiful said, inciting yet another round of shouts in the lower House.
Johari did not respond to Wan Saiful’s claims, instead ordering for the House to continue its debates on the motion at hand.
In a press conference after the opposition’s walkout, opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN) also lambasted the speaker for allowing the motion to be tabled after Ronald had raised his objections.
The PAS secretary-general also claimed that the speaker had made an “illegal” decision and erred in law while expressing his grievances over Wan Saiful being denied his right to be heard prior to the voice vote being called.
During the previous Dewan Rakyat meeting in March, Wan Saiful claimed that two other Bersatu MPs had offered him several inducements to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government.
The offers included an RM2 million parliamentary allocation, coverage of his wife’s medical expenses, an undisclosed sum to handle his ongoing legal case, and the possibility of having charges against him dropped.
During a debate on the royal address on February 26, Wan Saiful claimed that another MP from Kelantan had facilitated an introduction to someone linked to the planned declaration of support for the government.
As a result of the allegation, Wan Saiful proposed the establishment of a committee under Standing Order 80A to address contemptuous behaviour by members of the House. – June 24, 2024