The Parliamentary Privileges Committee tasked with looking into whether Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament Karpal Singh had ' misdirected ' the Dewan Rakyat may recommend his suspension unless he apologises.

Malaysiakini understands that the committee met on Aug 10 and agreed to first order that Karpal issue an apology to the House. If he does so, he could be let off with possibly a reprimand but if he refuses, the committee is likely to recommend a six-month suspension.

Karpal, who is deputy chairperson of DAP, was hauled up before the committee for making a 'false statement and for misdirecting the House' after he cited the wrong law to protest that some parliamentarians had not raised their right hand while being sworn in for the new parliamentary term on May 17.

The Dewan Rakyat then passed a motion on June 14 to refer him to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee. On July 20, the committee was granted an extension of time to present its findings on the matter.

The committee was scheduled to meet on July 19 to finalise its draft recommendation but the meeting was called off at the last minute without a clear reason being given.

The latest draft recommendation requires the endorsement of the majority of the six-member committee before it can be tabled for debate in Parliament. It is subject to final amendments before the Dewan Rakyat reconvenes on Sept 1.

Karpal's stand

It is learnt that committee, during its meetings prior to July 19, had found insufficient grounds to take action against Karpal. It is uncertain as to why the committee has since changed its recommendation.

The committee is chaired by deputy Speaker Dr Yusof Yacob, with committee members comprising Chor Chee Heung (BN-Alor Setar), Dr James Dawos Mamit (BN-Mambong), Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Bahru, photo ), K Devamani (BN-Cameron Highlands) and Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam, photo ).

Zaid and Chong, when contacted today, refused to comment.

Commenting on his possible suspension from Parliament, Karpal told malaysiakini that he would not apologise and was prepared for any eventuality.

"The question of an apology does not arise. I believe in apologising if I am wrong, but definitely not because of intimidation... I will not bow to any pressure from any quarter ... this is something unacceptable," he said when contacted today.

"Why should I apologise for telling the truth? What have I done wrong?" he added, referring to a letter issued by Speaker Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail ( photo ) on April 8, in which he had reminded parliamentarians to raise their hand during the swearing-in ceremony.

'Not afraid'

Karpal said that, although he had cited the wrong legislation, this slip-up did not warrant a suspension as it was "... not intentional or harmful to anyone'.

He said if he were to be punished on the basis of citing the wrong law, it would discourage other parliamentarians from speaking up.

"Suspension without pay for such a minor offence will deter a lot of parliamentarians, in particular those whose livelihoods depend on their MP's monthly allowance, from speaking up in the future. But this kind of thing doesn't frighten me," he said.

Karpal also reiterated that he should be allowed to defend himself before the committee and said that a fresh inquiry should be held to allow this.

"How can Parliament, a democratic institution that enacts laws, condemn someone without first hearing them out? It is my constitutional right to defend myself," he stressed.

Karpal is the second MP referred to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee in recent times.

In November 1983, DAP Sandakan MP Fung Ket Wing was referred after taking to task former Sabah Chief Minister Harris Salleh in the House for allegedly owning huge plots of land in Labuan.

The committee, after a eight-month inquiry, found that Fung's allegation was untrue and recommended a verbal warning. However, the House amended this and suspended Fung for nine months.

In 2001, DAP Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan was suspended without allowance for six months after she criticised the Speaker for rejecting her motion to debate a scandal involving the Certificate of Legal Practice examinations.

Fong was not referred to the committee. Instead, a motion calling for her suspension was tabled in the House and passed.