The parliamentary speaker's rejection of an emergency motion concerning the Certificate in Legal Practice scandal is tantamount to abuse of power, said an opposition parliamentarian today.

"The reasons given in rejecting this motion are wrong," said Fong Po Kuan (DAP - Batu Gajah).

"I would also like to reiterate that the function of the Parliament is to provide a forum for criticism and for people to highlight their opinions on national matters," Fong said in a statement.

Yesterday, Speaker Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail rejected an emergency motion proposed by Fong on Nov 29 to discuss the need for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe the allegation that the exam marks had been tampered with.

In an written reply to Fong dated Dec 3, the speaker said the motion will not be entertained because DAP MP for Kota Melaka Kerk Kim Hock had raised a similar motion regarding the exam leaks on Nov 16.

Kerk's motion was also quashed by Zahir.

On Nov 12, the Legal Profession Qualifying Board nullified the results of the July and October CLP examinations after discovering that the question papers had leaked. Later, the board also learnt that the examination marks had been tampered with.

The board held examination director Khalid Yusoff responsible and a police report was lodged.

'Inappropriate'

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Lim Si Cheng told Fong in Parliament yesterday that the CLP matter has been referred to the courts and "therefore it was inappropriate to discuss it in Parliament".

A student filed a lawsuit seeking a retraction on the board's decision to nullify the results.

However, Fong argued that the deputy speaker failed to understand the issues underlying the CLP scandal.

"The court case filed is to do with the board's decision to nullify the results and has nothing to do with the alleged mark tampering.

"Is the speaker of the house trying to say that the issue cannot be discussed in Parliament because it has been brought to court but statements may be made outside of Parliament by the board, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim and others?" queried Fong.

Since the scandal erupted, Rais, who is also the de facto law minister, has been making numerous statements concerning the matter.