The Dewan Rakyat speaker has thrown out Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's appeal to lift the two-day suspension on seven Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians including Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

Anwar had submitted the appeal yesterday after the seven had been booted out of the House, following their call for the Perak state assembly to be dissolved.

Apart from Nizar, the others were Nga Kor Ming (Taiping-DAP), Ngeh Khoo Ham (Beruas-DAP), N Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai-PKR), Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena-PAS), D'zulkifli Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PAS) and Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai-PAS).

pandikar amin and anwar ibrahim and parliament Anwar had asked Pandikar Amin to reconsider the suspension order as the MPs, most of whom are from Perak, reacted to make their stand on the political crisis in their state.

However, Pandikar Amin said: “Parliament is not the arena to champion the political agenda of a certain faction but a place to discuss manners concerning the people in general.

“I always remind myself that I have to be fair to all parliamentarians. I hope that they will also work together to ensure that the proceedings run smoothly and in an organised manner.”

He said he could not understand why MPs have to state their stand on the political crisis in Perak “when it is not relevant to Parliament”.

“Although I sympathise with the members of parliament involved, I cannot revoke the order,” he said after making the decision in chambers.

The speaker further expressed disappointment that the tolerance he shows is not appreciated by some MPs.

“They have no respect for this institution and disobey the Standing Orders,” he said.

PAS leaders Nasharudin Mat Isa and Khalid Samad described Nizar's actions as “spontaneous” and “not a planned tactic”.

nasharuddin mat isa 04 Nasharudin (Bachok-PAS) explained that the party leadership was not informed of Nizar's actions prior to the latter’s oath-taking ceremony as the newly-elected representative of Bukit Gantang, Perak.

He said PAS would have been better prepared if Nizar had informed them of his plans, but added that the matter was “too trivial” for the disciplinary committee to penalise him.

Shah Alam MP Khalid, told reporters at the Parliament lobby, that Nizar's frustration was understandable.

khalid samad “He feels that what has happened (in Perak) is a very big issue (and that there has been) total disregard for the laws of the land. I think he wants MPs to realise that they are expected to uphold their oath and to live up to their promise to defend the laws of the land,” said Khalid.

“The events that unfolded in Perak are utterly unacceptable. He finds it strange that people in Parliament (behave) as if it never happened... that is why he made his point when he did what he did.”

Call based on ‘compassion’

In a separate development, Anwar commented on criticism of his call to allow former Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng, 85, to return to Malaysia.

At a press conference, Anwar said his call had been issued on grounds of compassion.

chin peng and communist malaya Former army personnel, who had fought a bloody battle against the communist insurgency in the 1980s, are completely opposed to Chin Peng’s return.

“I sympathise with their loss and in no way do we compromise on this. But why single out Chin Peng (left) when others were allowed to come back and given financial support on humanitarian and compassionate grounds?

“Please distinguish our strong position on commendation by any party and (our) compassionate (call) for a very old man to return to his village.”