A PKR MP, acting as a lawyer for Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian has rebutted minister in the prime minister’s department Azalina Othman Said’s claims that his client had undermined Parliament’s independence when he sued Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Padang Serai MP N Surendran said that not only does Article 8 of the Federal Constitution protects a person’s right of access to the courts and justice, there has also been a precedent set by the Federal Court on a related matter.

“Azalina accuses Hee of 'failing to comprehend' Article of 63(1) of the constitution, which states that the validity of proceedings in Parliament cannot be questioned.

“However, Azalina herself appears to be ignorant of the decision of the Federal Court in Zambry Kadir v Sivakumar in 2009, which decided that the court can inquire into decisions of the legislative body that are grossly illegal or violate constitutional mandate,” Surendran said in a statement...