KUALA LUMPUR – In a bloc vote today, 110 lawmakers voted to suspend Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) from the Dewan Rakyat and parliamentary select committees for six months.
During the vote, 46 MPs were absent, three abstained, and 63 opposed the motion.
Earlier, four MPs were allowed to debate the motion, with two from each side of the aisle – Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN), Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-PN), Azli Yusof (Shah Alam-PH), and law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang-BN).
The motion to oust Wan Fayhsal comes after he made allegations outlined in a poison-pen letter in the lower House on July 1 against an Employers Provident Fund (EPF) officer regarding Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s privatisation deal.
According to the Dewan Rakyat’s order paper for today, the motion on Wan Fayhsal read, “The Machang MP has issued a statement and allegation that is serious and stirs anti-government sentiments. Therefore, it is agreed that the Machang MP should be suspended from the meeting and select committees for six months from the date this motion is approved.”
The motion, brought by Azalina, is listed as the government’s first order of business after the Minister’s Question Time.
Wan Fayhsal is a member of the Special Select Committee on International Relations and International Trade.
Wan Fayhsal had accused the EPF officer of being the “mastermind” of MAHB’s proposed deal.
Following the decision read out by Johari, Wan Fayhsal attempted to voice his protest but his microphone was immediately cut off, prompting several PN lawmakers to recite the “Qunut Nazilah” prayer in protest of the suspension.
Before the vote, Azalina told the House that the immunity enjoyed by parliamentarians comes with responsibilities.
“Because this immunity is enjoyed by MPs, it is regulated by Parliament itself. We are judged by our peers.
“The motion to suspend Wan Fayhsal is nothing new, as other MPs were removed from the Dewan Rakyat in the past.”
She added that these include former Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang in 2018 and former Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo in 2009.
She also cautioned MPs that their debates are being viewed by the public, adding that they should be careful, especially when referring to poison-pen letters.
“Even if you believe the contents of a poison-pen letter, you are responsible for investigating it first.
“If (the Machang MP) referred to an official document or qualified his previous statements, we won’t have a problem. But if we are allowed to refer to poison-pen letters, it would open the floodgates.
“Based on Machang’s statements, the issue has gone viral as if Parliament endorsed the content of the poison-pen letter.
“Now, who is defending the implicated EPF employee and his family?”
During the vote, several MPs, including Datuk Awang Hashim (Pendang-PN) requested that Wan Fayhsal be given the floor to defend himself.
Awang said it would be unfair if Wan Fayhsal was not given the chance to speak before the motion was put to a vote.
“Speaker, give YB Machang a chance to speak. It’s not fair if he doesn’t get the floor. After you let him speak, if they vote to punish him, then carry on with it.”
However, this was opposed by Chong Zhemin (Kampar-PH) who said the opposition MPs were already given the opportunity to debate the motion.
Following the parliamentary calendar, Wan Fayhsal will not be allowed to sit during the third sitting scheduled from October to December this year. – July 18, 2024