The suspension of PKR vice-president and Padang Serai MP N Surendran is “extremely shocking” and breached the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat, non-governmental organisation Lawyers for Liberty said.

It said deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee’s action in passing the suspension order less than 24 hours after it was presented to Parliament was intentional and did not adhere to the Rule 27(3) of the Standing Orders.

“The deputy speaker must be satisfied, upon representation to him by a minister, that public interest requires a motion to be debated as soon as possible and in such an event, one day’s notice shall be sufficient,” Lawyers for Liberty said in a press statement yesterday.

It said Kiandee ( left ) did not define how the motion was a matter of public interest and a conflict of interest arose when he himself was the subject of the motion tabled.

“The use of Rule 27 in this case was clearly erroneous and a serious conflict of interest, as the motion was approved to be tabled by the speaker when the speaker’s position was itself the subject of the motion,” it said.

The NGO believes that Surendran’s fate should have been decided by a more impartial avenue, such as the Committee of Privileges, under Rule 80.

“We call upon Parliament to immediately revoke the suspension and allow Surendran to resume his parliamentary duties.

“His continued suspension makes a mockery of our supposedly most august House that has lost its lustre, respect and public confidence,”  Lawyers for Liberty added.