Speaker shoots down sex video screening
Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has shot down suggestions for the screening of the infamous sex video in the House.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has shot down suggestions for the screening of the infamous sex video in the House.
"During a sitting, it is forbidden to use unparliamentary words. (So) what more to show that kind of video in the Dewan Rakyat?
"I cannot allow it for two reasons. First it will breach the Standing Orders. Secondly, it is because of the Muslims among us, as it is haram (forbidden)," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Pandikar was replying to Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) who asked if the Dewan Rakyat would allow the controversial video to be screened for the MPs.
Ibrahim stood up to ask the Speaker's opinion just after Question Time.
As far as he was concerned, Pandikar said, politicians could indulge in as much politicking as they want to outside the House.
However, in Parliament, as MPs they should observe the Standing Orders and rules of conduct.
"As long as I sit here (as speaker), I will not allow the Dewan to be used for political agenda by any side," Pandikar said.
Speaker explains restraint
The speaker also explained that he had been approached by the media over by the matter yesterday, but had refrained from commenting as that would be against the rules.
"For me and my deputies, our job is like (judges) in the courtroom. Judges cannot just issue a verdict just like that, so it is with Dewan Rakyat business. There must be a discussion first in the Dewan as these are the business of the rakyat ," said Pandikar.
He explained that he had to refrain from commenting, not because he is a snob but because he must wait for the matter to be brought up in the House by a MP.
"It is up to me to decide, yes or no. If there is a motion under Standing Order 26 or 27 with 14 days’ notice, if brought by a minister, and it is in the interest of the rakyat ."
Yesterday, the media had reported that the DAP’s Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh had insisted that the sex video should be screened in Parliament.
This is to enable the speaker and MPs to ascertain for themselves if the man in the footage is indeed Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, as has been claimed but which he has denied.
Karpal’s call received support from across the floor, with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz throwing his weight behind the proposal.
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