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Friday, 20 March 2009

Pakatan appeals for Gobind’s pay

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Pakatan Rakyat is appealing to Parliament for Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo to be paid his allowances while serving out his one-year suspension.

Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen filed a motion under standing order 8(1) today to ask Parliament not to withhold Gobind's allowances and privileges as a MP.

Gobind was suspended from Parliament for one year on Monday without pay and privileges after calling Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak a murderer and insulting the House Deputy Speaker last week.

Chong told reporters that withholding Gobind’s pay was against the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980. This is because the House does not have the authority to deny the privileges of any MP.

“At most the House can only stop Gobind from entering the premises of the Dewan. That is the most that the Dewan can do but they went beyond that by taking away his pay given to him under the law. What the law has given to him, the Dewan cannot take it away,” he explained.

“If Gobind tries to commence an action in court and the court finds that the House has no power to take away his salary as an MP, he will put the whole House to shame. To prevent such a consequence from happening, I’ve submitted this motion today for the House to reconsider and to revoke the decision.”

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