PARLIAMENT In a surprising move, speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has allowed a debate regarding an emergency motion on the exposes made in a recent Al Jazeera documentary on the treatment of refugees in Malaysia.

Pandikar told the Dewan Rakyat that he is allowing the debate as the motion put forth by Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) fulfilled all the necessary conditions - specific, urgent and in public interest.

The debate will take place for an hour beginning 4.30pm today, and will also have a response from the Home Ministry on the matter.

Lim moved the motion as the government has yet to respond to the allegations made in the documentary titled "Malaysia's unwanted".

He had expressed concern that Malaysia's human rights image is at stake because of the documentary.

"I find this motion to be specific, of public interest, and of urgency. I set aside one hour for this motion to be debated and passed later," Pandikar said.

The documentary involved an undercover operation to portray how refugees and illegal immigrants are being treated at detention camps in Malaysia.

The documentary was aired in the channel's 101 East program.