The parliamentary rights and privileges committee has convened its meeting to consider the propriety of specific remarks made in the House by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Wearing a beige suit and brown-and-yellow tie, Anwar (left) entered the room about 12.35pm, a little over an hour after the session was scheduled to start.

azlan However, he was asked to leave the room while the committee decided on his formal requests for an open hearing and legal representation. 

MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai), Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong), Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) and Loh Gwo-Burne (PKR-Kelana Jaya) had initially entered the meeting room as observers, but were sent out immediately.

"It's clear cut. The rules clearly state that MPs are allowed, so when we objected, they are deciding again," said Gobind.  

The committee then decided that Anwar's lawyer and former Bar Council head S Ambiga could be present as an observer.

Anwar and Gobind called a press conference in the Parliament lobby.

Anwar wants lawyer to be there

Gobind said he would write a letter to the committee to ask for its grounds in barring the presence of the MPs, and to request that the proceedings be opened fully to them.

 

"It is important that we as elected representatives are allowed to enter to follow the proceedings so that we can answer and explain to the public later on what is happening, what has happened and what will probably happen.

teoh family sue macc officer intimidate prontip 050110 gobind "We are utterly disappointed with the decision and we will appeal to the chairperson to reconsider the decision, set it aside and allow us to fully appear and follow the proceedings," he said.

Considering the ‘international significance’ of the hearing, Gobind ( right ) said any member of Parliament should be allowed to be present to observe the proceedings.

He added that Pandikar has to also clarify and explain in details the grounds of barring the lawmakers from the proceeding.

Anwar reiterated that the House was censuring his freedom in the Dewan Rakyat. "The motion to refer me to the committee is to curb my activities and my freedom to express my views in Parliament.

"They have chosen to support Apco, to use Apco to run a massive international campaign to smear my reputation. All this, I will adduce in evidence to the committee," said Anwar.

Link to '1Malaysia'

"We wanted the members of parliament to be present but I will leave it to colleagues to deliberate on the issue.

azlan "I wanted the presence of a counsel of my choice and that was agreed upon, but there was no clear decision on the role of the counsel - whether to sit and whisper to me or to be able to submit on particular substantive issues on a point of law because otherwise it is going to be difficult for us to proceed.

"So the speaker was kind enough to say that this needs to be deliberated further by the committee and I will be duly informed," said Anwar.

The parliamentary rights and privileges committee has adjourned its meeting till tomorrow.

At the hearing proper, Anwar will be required to explain his remarks linking 1Malaysia with Ehud Barak's 'One Israel' concept after the BN-led federal government referred him to the powerful disciplinary committee.

He had alleged that Israeli-linked public relations firm Apco Worldwide was the real brains behind both 1Malaysia and the One Israel campaign.

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