Security at Parliament House has been tightened after last week’s incident when Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh was ambushed by several Umno Youth supporters while on his way into the building.

parliament security strengthen 020309 01 This morning, the access road was separated by safety cones. Reporters and visitors had to pass two checkpoints before reaching the building and another checkpoint at the entrance.

Asked to comment, Minster in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the measure is necessary after the “unprecedented incident” last week.

“I think we have been a bit relaxed... people can just come in and we don't know what their intention is in coming here,” he told reporters at the lobby.

“To ensure it does not happen again, the speaker asked for stricter checks to be made on those coming in...if they have no business, they do not have to be here.”

Asked if the move would be made permanent, Nazri said: “It is a decision for the speaker to make.”

violent attack towards dap karpal singh and lim lip eng at parliament 260209 01 Last Thursday afternoon, Karpal was surrounded by about 30 Umno Youth members, who prevented him from entering the Dewan Rakyat and demanded an apology for his comments in the House.

He had accused Umno Youth being of being responsible for a death threat against him and the two ‘live’ bullets he had received in the mail.

A special committee presided by the speaker and comprising several MPs was set up later that day to investigate the incident and take those involved to task.

‘The last straw’

With speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia out of the country, deputy speaker Wan Juniadi Wan Jaafar agreed that the security in Parliament needs to be tightened.

parliament house leak leakage 050508 wan junaidi “We have to look at the practice of other Parliaments, We can't do things that differ very much from other Parliaments,” he explained.

“But if you visit the House of Commons in the UK, you are not even allowed to bring in a mobile phone....the incident last week was the last straw.”

Karpal also reiterated the need for tighter security.

“At the gate itself they should check whoever comes in, and make sure they know who they are,” he said.

“At the same time, I think the public should not be denied access as long as they are cleared by security, not only at the gate but as they come up into Parliament.”

He also suggested that those who come into the House should be “sponsored by an MP” so that if trouble occurs, the ‘sponsor’ can be held responsible.