Speaker defends decision barring suspended Wan Fayhsal from Dewan

PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul has defended his decision barring suspended Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal from sitting in the public gallery.

Johari (above), who delivered his ruling under Standing Order 44(5), responded to the motion from Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) at the end of Question Time today.

“This is my decision. While I am presiding as the speaker today. Any members (MPs) ordered to leave (the House) under this Standing Order, the ‘order to leave’ (keluar) means to be out of this chamber.

“He (Wan Fayhsal) can follow (the proceedings) from outside, but he cannot enter the chamber because this can cause a lot of problems,” he said.

Earlier, Takiyuddin stood up to question Johari’s response to Wan Fayhsal in a letter dated Oct 15, in which he underscored his decision with regards to the former Bersatu Youth chief’s six-month suspension effective July 18.

Takiyuddin said he first raised the question before deputy speaker Ramli Mohd Nor on Oct 21 but was instructed to wait for Johari’s return this week.

“We from the opposition feel that your orders as stated in the letter, in our view, do not follow the rules,” said the PN chief whip.

“On behalf of the opposition, I urge you (Johari) to review this order to at least allow him (Wan Fayhsal) to sit in the public gallery,” he added.

At a separate press conference, Johari, who came back from official visits last week to the parliaments of Vietnam and Laos, said Malaysia looks forward to hosting the 45th Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (Aipa) next September.

He said his visit to Vientiane, Laos, was to formally accept passed and pending resolutions of the Aipa, as the new incoming Asean chair.

“I will try my best to visit the parliaments of all Asean member countries ahead of the 45th Aipa Grand Assembly in Malaysia next September,” he said.

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