The High Court in Shah Alam fixed May 31 to decide on a suit filed by lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun to quash an order by the Selangor state assembly compelling him to appear before the House rights and privileges committee to answer charges for contempt of the assembly.

Justice Zaleha Yusof set the date after hearing in chambers arguments by Mohd Hafarizam’s counsel Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, and Chang Kok Keong, representing the defendants.

Firoz told reporters later that the plaintiff argued that the summons by the House committee did not fall within the privileges accorded under Article 72 of the federal constitution.

He said there was no power under the federal constitution or the state constitution of Selangor for a summons to be issued against the plaintiff and argued that the summons, therefore, was unconstitutional and null and void.

Meanwhile, Chang told reporters that Article 72 of the federal constitution stated that the state assembly’s proceeding should not be questioned by any court.

        

Mohd Hafarizam filed the originating summons on April 26 to quash the Selangor state assembly's order for him appear before the House rights and privileges committee on April 29.

On April 29 the High Court suspended the summons issued by the assembly, pending the hearing today.

Mohd Hafarizam named the Selangor legislative assembly, the House rights and privileges committee secretary Mohamad Yasid Bidin and the committee as defendants.

Last April 1, Mohd Hafarizam and his client, Port Klang assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Abdullah, were referred to the rights and privileges committee for contempt for sending a letter to state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim allegedly in a language deemed indecent, insolent and threatening.

- Bernama