Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar claimed that his ministry had received crucial information indicating that a demonstration was to have been staged in Parliament today.

syed hamid albar 170608 talking This was based on "two political speeches, two blogs and two SMS (text-messages)", he said in parliament.

While refusing to divulge details, he cited one text-message as having urged people to show their support for the emergency motion of no-confidence that was to have been debated today.

However, the motion was rejected in chambers by the speaker.

Syed Hamid further claimed that, in this month alone, the ministry received information that numerous demonstrations were to be staged by the opposition with the sole purpose of toppling the government.

"It is not wrong to change the government, but don't forget that we (Barisan Nasional) are also representing the rakyat, not just them (Pakatan Rakyat)," he said.

police parliament blockade traffic jams in city area 140708 03 Stressing that security could not be jeopardised, the minister explained that the authorities could not use a wait-and-see approach and that action was required as part of "preventive measures".

Syed Hamid brushed off claims by opposition MPs that Parliament had been turned into a 'war-zone' by the heavy police presence this morning. He cited the need to maintain public order.

Mayhem in the House

Earlier today, opposition MP Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) strongly denied that Pakatan was involved in planning a demonstration.

He sparked mayhem in the House when he questioned speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia about the police, who were monitoring those entering the parliament building.

azmin ali pc in parliament 010708 "It was said that there would be chaos caused by a demonstration. Honourable Speaker, could you tell the House who the demonstrators are and who organised the demonstration?"

Azmin, who is Pakatan chief whip, said the "wild accusations" against the opposition amount to mala fide (were done in bad faith).

"If parliament is so powerful, why is it scared of just one person named Anwar Ibrahim?" he asked, saying that Syed Hamid should be the one to respond.

Both sides kept up the verbal sparring as the speaker looked on.

After some minutes, he said: "Please, I'm getting tired... You are all politicking. Do not drag me into the arena."

He rejected Azmin's request for a reply from Syed Hamid, saying that the ministers need not answer any questions "unrelated to the standing order".

He also said the MPs should be grateful that there had been no riot or demonstration outside Parliament today.

The speaker also "lauded" the MPs as brave for their determination to defend their principles without realising that they had flouted many Dewan Rakyat rules.

"I also would not sit here if I am not brave. The name is Pandikar (warrior) not only Pandikar but also Mulia (noble)," he said and told the MPs to heed the security advice.

parliament speaker pandikar amin pc 250608 05 Met later in his office, Pandikar Amin told reporters that the police had acted based on intelligence reports and that the parliament authorities did not have a right to question this.

"The MPs raised something that is related to a confidential report. I was contacted by a police officer. They acted based on intelligence reports, so how could I question the police?

"Why do they (the opposition) have to take this to extremes? They question if the police do their job and question if they don't."

Kit Siang's attempt

Earlier, the speaker had shot down Lim Kit Siang’s (DAP-Ipoh Timur) attempt to refer inspector-general of police Musa Hassan to the Rights and Privileges Committee concerning the police's move to beef up security in Parliament.

Lim cited Standing Order 26(1)(p) in the move and questioned Musa's action which he said had violated a motion agreed upon on April 28 to ensure uninterrupted passage of MPs to Dewan Rakyat.

Because of the extra strict security measures, a number of MPs had difficulties in entering the Parliament building to attend the sitting, he added.

In dismissing the motion, Pandikar Amin said that the Rights and Privileges Committee regulations were imposed only on Dewan Rakyat members present in the chamber.

He said the stringent security should not become an issue because the police were implementing it for the MPs' own security after receiving various intelligence information.

"I was also stopped a while ago. I did not protest," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Watch 8-min video on Syed Hamid