KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat has erupted into a brief shouting match after the delayed deadline for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (Pekan-BN) to clarify his “misleading statements”.
This drew ire from Tony Pua (Damansara-PH), saying Najib’s “excuse” is insulting to Dewan Rakyat because the Pekan lawmaker is not a candidate in the Johor election.
“I understand if he is hospitalised, or if he is contesting in Johor. But his reason is that he is campaigning. This is insulting to the House.”
Known Najib ally Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Rahim (Baling-BN) questioned Pua over his attendance in Parliament last week.
“Were you there when Pekan was debating? If you want to debate something, you have to be there and listen to the debate in the House.
“You’re just taking hansards and wanting to be a hero. If you want to discuss, you have to be in the House. Jelutong (R.S.N. Rayer) is okay because he was in the House at that time.”
Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun told the House that Najib was given permission to provide his explanation next Tuesday after getting a letter from the Pekan MP.
Azhar said he had received a letter from Najib yesterday, requesting for an extension to submit his explanation.
“I received a letter from Pekan yesterday requesting an extension until next Wednesday. But I will only allow it until Tuesday, before 10am.
“So, there is no issue of Pekan disobeying my instructions.”
Last Thursday, Pua submitted a motion requesting that Najib be referred to the Parliamentary Rights and Freedoms Committee for allegedly trying to “mislead” the House.
In response to the motion, Azizan had instructed Najib to provide an explanation on his allegation that he issued a misleading statement to the Dewan Rakyat during his debate session on 1Malaysia Development Bhd last week. – The Vibes, March 9, 2022
