KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP today failed in his bid to refer Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to the Rights and Privileges Committee over the controversial “I help you, you help me” remark in the recently concluded Sibu by-election.
Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, in shooting down a motion brought by Chong Ching Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching), said the Standing Orders gave him no power to cite Najib for misleading the house because the alleged incident happened outside the Dewan Rakyat.
Cheng had said he had video evidence of Najib bribing voters in Sibu.
"I have listened carefully to your argument but I, although as a speaker, cannot widen my power,” Pandikar said.
“As an MP, you have privileges and immunity in the house but not outside. If you think the prime minister has gone against the law, then it is up to you to think about other actions to take against him."
This was Cheng’s second attempt to bring Najib to book for alleged corruption during the Sibu by-election. Last month, in tabling his motion, he said there was evidence of corruption in the reply the prime minister had given to a question about how much it would cost to fulfil promises made to Sibu voters.
The speaker then postponed his decision, saying he had to investigate the matter first.
In his written reply, Najib said the government had allocated RM37.7 million for Sibu, including RM5 million for a flood mitigation programme in Rejang Park.
It was in Rejang Park that Najib made his “I help you, you help me” offer, as shown in a video on YouTube. Najib said he would help the people of Sibu solve the flood problem if they voted for Barisan Nasional’s candidate Robert Lau instead of DAP’s Wong Ho Leng.
Today’s ruling was greeted by loud protests by opposition MPs. “Double standards,” they shouted.
Poor excuse
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) said the speaker had given a poor excuse for letting Najib off the hook.
Anwar reminded the house that evidence from outside was used in referring him to the Rights and Privileges Committee.
The committee is investigating Anwar over his allegation that Apco Worldwide, the government’s public relations consultant, was linked to Zionists and that 1Malaysia was inspired by 1Israel.
Said Anwar: "Apco produced a statement denying that it was involved in this matter outside the house and then they withdrew the letter when I revealed it in the house.
"Then another statement was released to help the prime minister.
“How could you modify this ruling? You should have just released me from the committee."
But Pandikar said the PKR leader had “missed the point" and then tried to explain his ruling in the following words:
"Your punishment was brought forward by a minister under Standing Orders 27-3. I have explained this at great length before. If the motion is made by a minister, that is a motion made by the government.
“Even I, as a speaker, my power could be put behind if there is a motion. You should understand. The motion has been agreed by the committee.
"All I am saying is that the opposition will have their say, and the government will have their say."
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