KUALA LUMPUR – A police report lodged by the opposition’s Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) over Yayasan Albukhary’s tax exemption status caused a ruckus in the Dewan Rakyat today, with a government lawmaker questioning the necessity of the report.
R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH) urged Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands-BN) to not allow Wan Fayhsal to “belittle” Parliament proceedings.
Rayer also pressed the opposition to explain why they had not raised any questions in the lower House if they had a bone to pick with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s (Tambun-PH) explanation on the Yayasan Albukhary tax exemption issue.
“(Anwar) has already explained in Parliament that Bagan (Lim Guan Eng) never cancelled the tax exemption awarded to Yayasan Albukhary.
“No MPs objected then, but two days later (Wan Fayhsal) lodged a police report accusing (Anwar) of making a false statement in Parliament.
“I’m not sure if (Wan Fayhsal) was here when (Anwar) was explaining the matter, (but) his decision to file a police report is over the top and should be seriously regarded by the House,” Rayer said to loud cheers from government backbenchers.
He also questioned why prior to turning to police, Wan Fayhsal had not cited Standing Order 36(12) of the House on how members who mislead the House are deemed to be in contempt of the House and may be referred to the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges.
Rayer’s tirade against Wan Fayhsal prompted Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran-PN) to tell the former that he should submit a written request to propose a motion under Section 36(12) if he wants to debate the police report.
Concurring with Ronald, Ramli said that Rayer or any other MP wanting to take issue with Wan Fayhsal’s police report can write to the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s office.
On Saturday, Lim, who is also DAP national chairman, alleged that Wan Fayhsal had committed a crime by lodging a false police report and was in contempt of parliamentary proceedings by attempting to turn the matter into a police investigation.
In his report, Wan Fayhsal alleged that Anwar misled the lower House by stating that the finance minister was not empowered under the law to grant tax exemptions. He also contended that Lim had lied about not revoking the foundation’s tax exemption status. – The Vibes, March 27, 2023
