Parliament has yet to take action on the attack against Khalid Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam) in its compound last November - because of a legal quandary on whether the House or the police should take action.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said a committee he chaired to discuss the matter had raised concerns on whether it would be double jeopardy if both institutions took action on the same case.

Thus, Pandikar said, the committee has taken a break to mull on this matter.

"In my personal opinion, let Parliament take action. No need for us to involve the police from outside," he said.

The law dictates that police must seek permission from the speaker before entering the Parliament grounds, even to conduct investigations.

Parliament is also empowered to take action against those who commit offences within its grounds.

Last Nov 24, Khalid was attacked by a group of men who claimed to be from Pasir Salak, Perak.

The group members said they were upset with Khalid for using an offensive term against their MP, Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak), during a heated exchange in the House.

Among those in the group was Tajuddin's son.

After Pandikar's explanation today, Khalid told the Dewan Rakyat that he believed police should take action against the attackers, since they were not lawmakers.

This, Khalid said, was because parliamentary police were also hurt in the attack.

"Action must be taken by the relevant authority, which is the police, if any government servant is hurt by members of the public, even if the incident occurred in the Parliament grounds," he said.

Parliamentary action should also be taken against either him or Tajuddin if the House committee finds them guilty of any offence, he added.

Tajuddin, who is also deputy agriculture and agro-based industries minister, has sued Khalid for a remark Khalid made against him for insulting a fellow MP.

Tajuddin has also sued New Straits Times and KiniTV over the case.