Departing from tradition, Barisan Nasional and opposition parliamentarians today joined forces to grill Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister's Department Noh Omar for his excessive claims expose.

In his attempt to escape the onslaught from both sides of the political fence, Noh blamed the media for blowing the issue out of proportion.

"It's not my fault but the press reports!" he exclaimed during his winding-up speech on the 2004 budget at the Dewan Rakyat.

Noh also repeatedly stressed that he respected the MPs' right to claim travel and other allowances and that he was not questioning this prerogative.

The parliamentary secretary added that he had rechecked the details on the claims and found that they were made during the Dewan Rakyat sittings or official functions, which the MPs were entitled to claim for.

Last Wednesday, Noh told Parliament that 14 MPs had filed claims exceeding RM10,000 a month for last year.

The claims have been widely reported in the media as mileage claims, but Noh's list involved not just travel allowances but also lodging and other claims.

On why he had jumbled lodging and mileage claims together, Noh said that he did not have the time to explain the matter properly as he was then interrupted by opposition MPs.

Clarification sought

Noh's reply nevertheless led to a heated exchange between him and Backbenchers Club chairperson Mohd Zin Mohamed, who said the issue has put the credibility of MPs at stake.

He said concerns pertaining to claims should be brought to the House's Privileges Committee or a special committee.

"Fourteen MPs have been implicated... the good name of the Parliament must be defended," he said.

In his defence, Noh again faulted the media for sensationalising the issue but this failed to satisfy Mohd Zin, who asked the government to issue a clarification to protect the reputation of the MPs.

"Padang Serai (BN's Lim Bee Kau) only made one claim over RM10,000 during the meeting season. Even for Jeli (PAS' Mohd Apandi Mohamd), I don't doubt him when he made those claims," added the Backbenchers Club president.

Noh said he had released the details on the controversial claims to journalists last week, and it was "up to the people and press to justify" the issue.

Joining the fray was DAP secretary-general and Kota Melaka MP Kerk Kim Hock.

The DAP leader asked Noh why he had urged the Anti-Corruption Agency to probe the claims and if there was a political motive behind this.

At this juncture, Speaker Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail came to the rescue and told Noh to conclude his explanation as it had dragged on for an hour.

'We're all victims'

Earlier, the matter was hotly debated by MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, especially those on the 'big claimers' list.

Ronald Kiandee (BN-Beluran) said his claims were reasonable since the amount included allowances for both accommodation and transportation.

"What is so unreasonable? If I want to cheat, I can cheat RM3,000, RM5,000, why must it be RM10,000?" he questioned.

Bung Moktar Raidin (BN-Kinabatangan) said the issue has led to "hardworking people like me being questioned by the public."

"We are all victims here," lamented the BN politician.

At this point, Deputy Speaker Lim Si Cheng had the House in stitches when he said Hoo had called him at 11.30pm last night to tell him that he had yet to have dinner because of telephone calls asking him on the matter.

The issue was also widely discussed by the MPs outside the House while the 14 have been dubbed as the 'club of over 10,000 claims'

Seven of the 'big claimers' were from BN, four from PAS, two from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) and one from DAP.

Topping the list was PAS MP for Jeli Mohd Apandi Mohamad whose total claims between January 2002 and June 2003 exceeded RM200,000.