Azalina defends suspension, ample time for Lim to apologise

comments     Published     Updated

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said has refuted opposition claims that DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang was not given the right to be heard.

She said Lim had ample time to explain and apologise for his remark made against Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

“He is given three days when he first uttered the remark against the speaker on Oct 19.

“In fact, the government - on the instruction from the speaker - had withdrawn the motion on the afternoon of Oct 21 to give an opportunity for Gelang Patah MP to apologise.

“He is given the opportunity to comply with the speaker's wishes before the Order 27(3) was read at 11.30am,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Lim was suspended for six months after he was accused of being in contempt of the speaker.

The veteran parliamentarian had accused Pandikar of abusing his power to sabotage the Public Accounts Committee's hearing on the 1MDB scandal.

He also stated the speaker had no powers under parliamentary rules to postpone PAC hearings and in so doing, had abused his power.

Azalina also disagreed with opposition's call for Lim to be referred to the rights and privileges committee under Standing Order 80 and 80A.

The minister, who is also Pengerang MP, said there was no need to call for an investigation or witnesses, as it was a clear Lim had made the statement in the House in front of the speaker, as shown in the Parliament Hansard on Oct 19.

“As a veteran MP since 1969, Lim should know the various standing orders and know the consequences when the speaker asked him to withdraw the statement and apologise,” she said.

Azalina stressed that Lim ( photo ) was suspended not because of 1MDB, despite what the opposition had wanted people to believe.

She added to ensure transparency, the government had instructed the Audit Department and the PAC to investigate 1MDB.

“The directive to the Audit Department to audit 1MDB was decided by the cabinet meeting on March 4, 2015,” Azalina said.



Malaysiakini
news and views that matter


Sign In