Puchong DAP MP Gobind Singh was suspended from Parliament for a year today due to the severity of his accusation against Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, explained Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Nazri claimed the lawmaker's 12-month suspension was a ‘fair’ punishment for the ‘offence’ committed.

"He was not just accusing the Pekan MP but the deputy prime minister (Najib) of a heinous crime...so he must be punished for the severity of his accusations," said Nazri.

gobind suspended from parliament 160309 nazri "If the offence was against an ordinary member of Parliament (the penalty of the punishment) would probably be less but we are talking about the post. Not only is Najib the deputy prime minister, he is also the (chief) whip (of Umno)," he said.

Nazri ( seated ) said it was crucial to take speedy action to prevent wrongful assumptions from being made by certain quarters whom, he claimed, might believe that Gobind’s allegations were true.

"Secondly if we don't take any action and later on he does the same and only then we decide take action on him, he can ask why was nothing done when he said it for the first time," said Nazri.

The Padang Rengas MP also claimed that parliamentary immunity was not relevant in Gobind’s case as action was taken in the House and not in court.

"In cases where seditious statements are made in the House, the MP's immunity does not come into effect," he said.

Altantuya murder accusation

Quizzed on whether Najib was consulted about the filing of the motion against Gobind, Nazri said: "Immediately after the incident took place I met with the speaker and decided to file the motion... it would be a conflict of interest to consult Najib as he is the personally involved".

Nazri added that Najib was not around when the vote on the motion took place as he did not want his presence to influence BN MPs to vote in his favour.

Last Thursday, during the committee stage debate on the second stimulus package, Gobind accused Najib of being involved in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

For that, Gobind was suspended from the day’s proceedings. However, on Friday Nazri filed an emergency motion to suspend Gobind for another 12 months.

gobind suspended from parliament 160309 01 Following the 40-minute debate on the motion this morning, Gobind ( right ) was expelled for a year and would lose his salary and allowances as an MP which amount to RM157,303.08 for a year.

Asked whether similar action would be taken against MPs if they made accusations of corruption or similar offences against other MPs, Nazri said: "It is up to the discretion of the speaker but it is possible".

Although opposition parliamentarians had opposed the motion against Gobind today by demanding for the matter to be adduced to the Privileges Committee, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia allowed the debate to proceed.

"It was not referred to the privileges committee because it happened in the House...he uttered it in front of so many MPs," said Nazri.

"It is not like what happened to Karpal Singh where we have to investigate because it happened outside. This happened in the House and we have the proof.

‘He deserves it’

"The Hansard cleared stated that he uttered such a word. So what is there to investigate? Even if it goes to the select committee it will come back to us. The select committee is to look at the facts but all the facts were before us," he stressed.

Moreover, Nazri said Najib ( below) himself was present in Parliament last Thursday "... after a request by the MPs for the minister of finance himself to round up the debate".

najib announce new bn perak state govt 040209 07 "We should not abuse (our privileges), you should ask intelligent questions about the economy of the country but instead he (Gobind) took the opportunity to insinuate something as serious as murder. I think he deserved to be punished for a year," he said.

Nazri defended the decision on the suspension saying that there was a limit to freedom of speech, even for a member of Parliament.

"If I call your mother a prostitute, is that fair? I say your mum is a prostitute and I had her for a two days, is that fair? Surely there is a limit to freedom of speech.

"This is an offence of him abusing his privilege. You cannot accuse another MP of a grievous crime and call him a murderer.

"It is not your privilege to simply shout at anybody you like and call him a murderer," he said.