PARLIAMENT Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has ruled that whether questions on the RM2.6 billion donation are sub judice or not will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

He agreed with Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) that there cannot be a blanket ban on such questions, as had been decided by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said.

Pandikar said he would also issue a detailed explanation on his ruling on Monday.

He said this after Gobind protested Azalina's decision to reject questions related to the RM2.6 billion donation.

However, as Azalina had completed wrapping-up her portion of the debate on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's speech by the time Pandikar entered the Dewan Rakyat, the speaker said he would only make such rulings for future questions.

"But since I cannot (rule on what happened before he came into the House), I am saying now that we will do this on a question by question basis.

"If the speaker rules that it is not sub judice, then the minister in question must answer the questions posed to him."

However, Pandikar said, if he had been pressured to make a decision, he would have used Standing Order 23(1)(g) which says that ongoing court matters can't be debated in the House.

Since last week, Azalina ( photo ) has rejected questions on the RM2 billion donation, declaring that these were sub judice.

However, Pandikar said only the speaker can make such a decision, and warned the minister not to repeat her action.

The speaker had entered the House after a half-hour ruckus triggered after Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee said Pandikar would make a ruling on the sub judice matter on Monday.

Opposition lawmakers refused to accept this, and demanded an immediate decision.

As the bickering went on, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom stood up to read out his wrap-up of the debate on the Agong's speech, ignoring the shouting match.

Following Pandikar's ruling, Gobind then proceeded to ask Jamil Khir why mutual legal assistance was not provided to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to help it complete its investigation into the donation.

However, Jamil Khir said he couldn't answer that question and promised a written reply.

Several Opposition MPs said they would continue to ask such questions to all mnisters in the Prime Minister's Department until they get answers.