Wan Fayhsal paints speaker Johari as crueller than Pandikar

Suspended lawmaker Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has criticised a parliamentary decision that banned him from certain areas within the Dewan Rakyat, calling it unjust.

The Bersatu MP lamented that Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul had made a “cruel” decision instead of following the precedent set by one of his predecessors - Pandikar Amin Mulia.

“In 2018, Gelang Patah (Lim Kit Siang) was also suspended for six months, just like me, but at that time, the speaker (Pandikar) allowed him to sit in the Dewan, but he was not allowed to speak,” Wan Fayhsal told a press conference in Parliament today.

He claimed that then premier Najib Abdul Razak had asked Pandikar to allow Lim to remain in the house.

However, what happened was that Lim believed he was not properly suspended, while Pandikar chose to actively ignore his presence.

Wan Fayhsal was suspended for six months in July for citing an anonymous letter about an alleged mastermind behind the takeover of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) shares.

On Tuesday, Johari sent Wan Fayhsal a letter stating that the Machang MP was not allowed in the public gallery or in rooms reserved for government officials serving in the Dewan Rakyat.

The outgoing Bersatu Youth chief lamented that such restrictions were taking place under a “reform government”.

“Why is it that now, under a government led by someone who is called Malaysia’s reform leader, not only has my right to defend myself in the parliamentary special select committee been denied, but now I am completely barred from even observing the ongoing session,” Wan Fayhsal said.

‘Treated worse than public’

The Perikatan Nasional parliamentarian also questioned whether his presence in the Dewan Rakyat was of lower status compared to that of the public attending the session.

Wan Fayhsal said he was only allowed to be within the Parliament Malaysia Complex and follow the Dewan Rakyat sessions through a live stream.

“I do not know under which rule I am prohibited and banned from the observer area and the public gallery.

“I’m not speaking at all; am I being treated worse than parliamentary staff, even lower than the public attending the Dewan Rakyat sessions?

“I am the elected MP for Machang, I won the election, and I am only suspended for six months, but I still comply with the rule that suspends me from participating in debates.

“Why is this cruel treatment imposed on me and my PN colleagues?” he asked.

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