KUALA LUMPUR – Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan appears to oppose proposed constitutional amendments that will bar MPs with pending court cases from attending and taking part in Dewan Rakyat sittings.
He said the proposal for such amendments has only been raised during cabinet meetings, and not been put up for debate in Parliament.
The Pontian MP added that the Malaysian legal system subscribes to the concept of innocent until proven guilty, and convictions by the lower courts can still be appealed at the higher courts.
He said until a judgment has been made by the apex court, this principle applies to everyone, regardless if the person is a government MP, member of the opposition, or an ordinary citizen.
“It is reasonable that an MP is allowed to continue their duties in their constituencies and in the Dewan Rakyat until a higher court or the Federal Court makes a decision. Too often cases take a long time to be resolved.
“So, it is only fair if MPs, who are still given their allowances, are allowed to attend, participate, and vote in Dewan Rakyat, and serve in their areas while they are on trial because they are presumed innocent until the completion of the entire (legal) process,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook tonight.
His comments come in response to Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who in an interview with Berita Harian, said the cabinet had agreed in principle to these constitutional amendments to the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.
Besides the proposal to exclude lawmakers under trial from Parliament sittings, Wan Junaidi included that tweaks to the Parliament’s Code of Ethics under the Parliamentary Service Act 1963 were also being studied by the government.
Ahmad himself was previously charged with money laundering and providing false statements in January 2020, and was later acquitted of the charges after agreeing to pay a RM1.1 million compound.
He was also charged with giving a false statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, before opting to pay the fine.
He was accused of receiving a sum of RM2 million from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which was said to be from 1Malaysia Development Bhd. – The Vibes, June 4, 2022
