An emergency motion was filed today by Bandar Kuching DAP parliamentarian Chong Chieng Jen contesting Parliament's decision to withhold Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo's allowance and perks following his suspension last week.

parliament 040309 chong chieng jen and fong poh kuan Chong ( photo: right ) filed the motion under Standing Orders 18(1) claiming that the motion which was passed on March 16 to suspend Gobind while withdrawing his allowance and perks, was illegal and wrong.

Gobind was punished for implicating Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu during the debate on the second stimulus package last week.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Chong said the grounds of his motion was based on the Members of Parliament Act (Remuneration) 1980, which provides that parliamentarians are entitled to allowance and perks as instructed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Great shame to the House

"The decision is illegal and it is against the law... this legislative institution is wrong to pass a motion which is against the law.

"Gobind's entitlement as a MP is embedded to whatever that is provided under the Members of Parliament Act (Remuneration) 1980 which includes his salary and allowances as well as perks such as insurance claims and the right to visit government departments as a MP," he said.

parliament pakatan walkout gobind singh pc images 300608 05 Chong said the House cannot deprive Gobind ( left ) of all the facilities, adding that at most the Parliament can only stop him from entering the Dewan Rakyat.

"But they went beyond that by taking away what the law has given him," he said, calling it a regrettable decision.

"If in the event that Gobind should try to commence an action in court and the court finds that the House has no power to take away his allowances, it would put the whole House to shame," he added.

On the same note, he said stripping Gobind of his privileges "inside and outside Parliament" deprived the people of Puchong of their rightful representation.

Also present at the press conference were DAP parliamentarians Fong Po Kuan (Batu Gajah), Sim Tong Him (Kota Melaka) and Lim Lip Eng (Segambut).