DAP chairperson Karpal Singh said police and security personnel did not come to his aid when he was mobbed by a group of angry Umno Youth supporters at the Parliament lobby this afternoon.

violent attack towards dap karpal singh and lim lip eng at parliament 260209 sequence "Although I called for the police to come and help, no one came... and my driver Michael called (DAP MP Fong) Po Kuan, who then called (DAP MP) Lim (Lip Eng).

"Lim came with N Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai-PKR), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang-DAP) and Chong Chieng Jen (Bandar Kuching-DAP),” he told reporters after the incident.

"I might be in a wheelchair but I will not be cowed or intimidated by anyone," he added.

The DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP said the Umno Youth supporters were so brazen that some of them had given him their name cards.

"They were very unruly and refused to let me leave," said the veteran politician, who called for urgent action to be taken against the mob.

"Something must be done on a very urgent basis... how were these people even allowed in the precincts of Parliament? Where is the security if we are going to be accosted on our way to the House?

"I want action to be taken by the speaker, a rhetoric statement in the House is not enough, we want action and the speaker could do the necessary afterwards," he added.

'Pinnacle of insolence'

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim condemned the incident, calling it the "pinnacle of insolence".

parliament pandikar amin anwar ibrahim lim kit siang dap pkr pc 121108 06 "We are fed-up with promises that action will be taken and we don't just want any investigations, we want an assurance from the speaker that the sanctity of this Parliament will not be destroyed," he said.

Also seeing red over the incident was another DAP stalwart, Lim Kit Siang.

"This has never happened before... it is the most outrageous and shameful episode in the history of Parliament," he said, adding that it was also a clear violation of the Houses of Parliament Privileges and Powers Act 1952.

"They should have been arrested on the spot for violating the act... something has become very ugly in Malaysian politics," he said.

Lim also called upon Umno Youth leader Hishammuddin Hussein and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to apologise over the incident.

Issue warrant of arrest

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairperson Tiong King Sing also expressed regret over the incident and apologised to Karpal.

"No doubt that what they have done is wrong but I want to stress that BN and opposition party members should maintain our cool and not cause provocation in the House.

"The opposition should not blame anybody of a crime until investigations are completed," he said in reference to Karpal's accusation yesterday that Umno Youth was responsible for the death threat and live bullets he received via mail last week.

Tiong said he would speak with the House speaker to ensure that security is tightened and make a ruling to disallow any visitors or friends to enter the premises.

parliament pandikar amin anwar ibrahim lim kit siang dap pkr pc 121108 07 Karpal, who met speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia in chambers later, said he consulted the speaker to pass a resolution under the Houses of Parliament Privileges and Powers Act 1952 to issue a warrant of arrests against the Umno Youth supporters.

"We have explained to the speaker and we want action to be taken immediately... it has to be done today," he said.

His son and Puchong MP, Gobind Singh Deo, said the speaker could take the action under the Act.

Later in the House, Karpal again asked Pandikar to evoke the parliamentary law and issue a warrant of arrest against those who ambushed him.

1767 section 80 a standing orders of the dewan rakyat malaysia parliament 270209 However, the Dewan Rakyat speaker said that it would be more suitable to establish a special committee to investigate the matter under Section 80(A) under the Standing Orders.

Although Karpal insisted that a warrant should be issued, Pandikar said since no investigation has been done, he cannot issue a warrant and therefore made up his decision to allow the formation a committee to look into the matter.

Committee's deadline: March 26

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz then read out the motion, which was agreed by the majority of the House.

Members of the committee are Pandikar and deputy speaker Ronald Kiandeee as well as members of parliament Tiong King Sing (Bintulu-BN), Fong Chan Ong (Alor Gajah-BN), Hajah Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong-BN), R Sivarasa (Subang-PKR), Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timor-DAP) and Kamaruddin Jaffar (Tumpat-PAS).

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Nazri said he suggested the setting up a committee rather than issuing the warrant of arrest because investigation was required to identify the persons involved.

"Karpal's complaint should be looked into as soon as possible... and the committee will do what they have to do - whether they call the police or the people involved - it is up to them," he said.

According to the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952, it is within the powers of the House to conduct investigation without the need for a police report.

He added that committee will have to conclude their investigation and submit their decision by the end of the Parliament seating, which is by March 26.

The Bukit Gelugor MP was however unsatisfied with the decision of the House.