The Federal Court today upheld a decision that Parliament must pay MPs’ their salaries and remuneration even while they are suspended from the House.

 

The case was brought by Puchong MP Gobind Deo Singh after he was deprived of his pay after being suspended from the Dewan Rakyat in 2009 for a year.

 

Hailing the unanimous decision by the Federal Court, Gobind urged Parliament to likewise disburse the withheld funds to all other previously suspended MPs.

 

"An elected rep who is suspended remains an MP who must still carry out his duties as MP outside Parliament. 

 

"There are many MPs who are full time politicians who depend wholly on their salaries to sustain not only themselves but their families as well. 

 

"Any order which takes away that source of income is most draconian and oppressive," he said in a statement.

 

The panel was led by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria (left) and comprise federal court judges Suriyadi Halim Omar, Zaleha Zahari, Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha and Ramly Ali.

 

The decision today was the final appeal after the case was heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court and Court of Appeal, both of which ruled in Gobind favour.

 

Federal Counsel Amarjeet Singh appeared for Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mula while Sangeet Kaur Deo and S Prakeas represented Gobind.

Karpal's last case

 

Gobind said the case was likely the last civil case argued by his late father Karpal Singh (below) who was also Bukit Gelugor MP.

 

"Karpal Singh said to me that if we won this case, it would be his hope that Parliament would review all other previous suspensions of elected representatives and reimburse them with their salaries and remuneration if withheld from them.

 

"I hope the Honorable Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Pandikar Amin Mulia would consider that request," he said.

 

Gobind was on March 16, 2009 suspended for a year from Parliament after he accused then Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of being involved in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Sirul Azhar and Azilah Hadri, Special Action Force (UTK) members assigned as Najib’s bodyguards at the time, were charged for the murder.

They were acquitted by the Court of Appeal but the prosecution is appealing this at the Federal Court.

The prosecution is appealing this at the Federal Court.