The Malaysian Insight

OPPOSITION MPs today asked for Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan to be referred to the Committee of Privileges for misleading Parliament on the matter of revoking emergency laws.

Gobind Singh (Puchong-PH) and Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (Sepang-PH) filed the motions for the referral.

“We want Dewan Rakyat to decide to refer Takiyuddin to the Committee of Privileges for misleading Parliament in the past few days. The speaker must also decide whether the Dewan Rakyat can debate this issue,” said Gobind this morning.

Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-PN) said the Speaker’s Office will respond later.

Takiyuddin’s announcement on Monday that the emergency ordinances had been revoked on July 21 had raised consternation among the lawmakers.

When pressed for clarification, including whether the decision had the king’s consent, the minister in charge of law and parliamentary affairs replied that he would only answer questions on the following Monday.

Yesterday, citing Standing Orders (14)(1)(g), Gobind said Takiyuddin must explain the furtive manner in which the laws were revoked.

“This is an important issue… an issue of public interest. We want to know what happened on July 21,” Gobind said.

“Did the Yang di-Pertuan Agong consent to the revocation of the emergency proclamation and did it follow procedure?”

Gobind said the MPs were not informed of the process.

Hanipa, meanwhile, had said the revocation of emergency laws would have legal implications.

“This is uncertainty. It is not good for the country and investors. Ordinances must not only be debated, but also laid down in the House. There must be a resolution on the proclamation,” Hanipa said.

The Committee of Privileges examines and decides on matters relating to powers and privileges referred to it by the House. 

It has the power to sanction MPs for infringements such as making misleading or insulting statements in Parliament.

It is chaired by Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun with Mohd Fasciae Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam-PN), Mohamad Alamin (Kimanis-BN), Nik Muhamad Zawawi Salleh (Pasir Puteh-PN), Wilson Ugak (Hulu Rajang-GPS), Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin (Hang Tuah Jaya-PH) and Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor-PH) as members.

Hanipa said Takiyuddin had made five misleading statements yesterday on the government’s decision to revoke the laws.

“Until now the cancellation of these ordinances have not been announced in an official statement or the federal gazette, read Hanipa’s motion to Parliament.

The former deputy law minister said Takiyuddin had also failed to answer whether the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had assented to the cancellation.

“As such, Takiyuddin has misled and insulted the Dewan Rakyat and should be referred to the Committee of Privileges,” said Hanipa.

The Speaker’s Office received Hanipa’s motion yesterday. – July 27, 2021.