Despite strong criticism that the motion was against the procedure, Parliament suspended N. Surendran for six months for insulting the Speaker.
UPDATED
KUALA LUMPUR: The Parliament suspended Padang Serai MP N Surendran today for six months for insulting Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia amid strong criticism that the motion is illegal and against the procedure.
The Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers rejected the motion when it was tabled at 11.30am because it did not fulfill the one-day filing requirement.
The motion was only filed at 6pm yesterday.
Surendran had accused the Speaker for uttering complete lies and being biased in a media conference after the PKR leader was ejected by the House on Tuesday.
Pakatan lawmakers said it was a conflict of interest when the Speaker allowed the motion to be debated in one day, although it was not a matter of public interest.
They said under normal circumstances it would take days before the motion could be debated.
However, amid banging the table and tearing up the motion, Minister in the Prime Minister Nancy Shukri proceed to read out the motion.
It was later adopted with 92 MPs voting in favour and the opposition members boycotting the voting.
Unhappy Pakatan reps
Earlier, Surendran who entered the House after serving a two-day suspension since Tuesday was told to leave as Speaker Pandikar Amin had said the MP was required to fulfill a full 48-hour suspension. He was ejected at 11.30am on Tuesday.
However the issue of defining the time period became the bone of contention with Pakatan reps crying foul over the decision by deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee to allow the tabling of the government motion.
“Why is it that two persons with the same title and sit on the same chair can give two contradictory definition to ‘one day’?
“Is it because he is a Pakatan member then he has to observe the suspension based on time, but if it is a motion brought by Umno then it doesn’t need to observe any laws?” Gombak MP Azmin Ali said.
Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang said Surendran should be referred rightfully to the House’s rights and privileges committee to ascertain the proof of his wrongdoings instead of being slapped with a suspension immediately.
In response, Kiandee said the speaker has the discretion to expedite a government motion without informing the reason.
“It is definitely a matter of public interest because the speaker is the highest institution of the Parliament,” he said after repeatedly pressed by opposition lawmakers.
Speaking to reporters later, Surendran said the suspension would not affect him “one jot” from taking up matters of public interest in the future.
He said the whole matter stemmed from his insistence to move an emergency motion on the demolition of part of the 101-year-old Sri Muneswarar Kaliyamman temple at Jalan Raja Chulan on Tuesday.
“I will continue doing my work after six months. I will be back,” said Surendran.
Meanwhile, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo have condemned the suspension which they deemed were unlawful.
UPDATED
KUALA LUMPUR: The Parliament suspended Padang Serai MP N Surendran today for six months for insulting Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia amid strong criticism that the motion is illegal and against the procedure.The Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers rejected the motion when it was tabled at 11.30am because it did not fulfill the one-day filing requirement.
The motion was only filed at 6pm yesterday.
Surendran had accused the Speaker for uttering complete lies and being biased in a media conference after the PKR leader was ejected by the House on Tuesday.
Pakatan lawmakers said it was a conflict of interest when the Speaker allowed the motion to be debated in one day, although it was not a matter of public interest.
They said under normal circumstances it would take days before the motion could be debated.
However, amid banging the table and tearing up the motion, Minister in the Prime Minister Nancy Shukri proceed to read out the motion.
It was later adopted with 92 MPs voting in favour and the opposition members boycotting the voting.
Unhappy Pakatan reps
Earlier, Surendran who entered the House after serving a two-day suspension since Tuesday was told to leave as Speaker Pandikar Amin had said the MP was required to fulfill a full 48-hour suspension. He was ejected at 11.30am on Tuesday.
However the issue of defining the time period became the bone of contention with Pakatan reps crying foul over the decision by deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee to allow the tabling of the government motion.
“Why is it that two persons with the same title and sit on the same chair can give two contradictory definition to ‘one day’?
“Is it because he is a Pakatan member then he has to observe the suspension based on time, but if it is a motion brought by Umno then it doesn’t need to observe any laws?” Gombak MP Azmin Ali said.
Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang said Surendran should be referred rightfully to the House’s rights and privileges committee to ascertain the proof of his wrongdoings instead of being slapped with a suspension immediately.
In response, Kiandee said the speaker has the discretion to expedite a government motion without informing the reason.
“It is definitely a matter of public interest because the speaker is the highest institution of the Parliament,” he said after repeatedly pressed by opposition lawmakers.
Speaking to reporters later, Surendran said the suspension would not affect him “one jot” from taking up matters of public interest in the future.
He said the whole matter stemmed from his insistence to move an emergency motion on the demolition of part of the 101-year-old Sri Muneswarar Kaliyamman temple at Jalan Raja Chulan on Tuesday.
“I will continue doing my work after six months. I will be back,” said Surendran.
Meanwhile, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo have condemned the suspension which they deemed were unlawful.
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