PANDIKAR BACKTRACKS ON BAN ON NAJIB-DOJ QUESTIONS: PINNED DOWN BY GOBIND, SPEAKER NOW CLAIMS HE HAD ‘MIS-SPOKEN’

KUALA LUMPUR – Lawmakers can bring up matters related to the civil lawsuit by the US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) action on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) depending on the questions asked.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, however, said he would make a ruling on whether certain statements or questions raised during the debates were deemed sub-judice, as and when it arises.

“I cannot make a ruling now when the issue has not come up.

“You cannot ask me to make a ruling on matters that have not been raised,” said Pandikar when answering to a query by Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) at the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.

Gobind had asked if Pandikar had made a decision that issues related to the DoJ’s lawsuit could not be raised during debates.

He said this was because on Oct 17, Pandikar made a decision in the Dewan that ministers need not answer oral questions that were related to the lawsuit.

Gobind said at a press conference held a few days later that Pandikar had told the media that “debates” on the lawsuits would not be allowed.

“There was no ruling on debate when the Speaker made the ruling on Oct 17,” clarified Gobind.

To this, Pandikar said he had spoken to the media to explain about the oral questions submitted to the ministers to answer.

“However, I have misspoken (tersasul) when I was speaking to the media,” said Pandikar, adding that he meant oral questions instead.

Gobind then said he had no intention to “pin the Speaker down” but merely needed clarification.

Pandikar also warned lawmakers from both sides of the divide not to drag him into their “political games” and to respect the decorum in the august House.

Referring to the walkout by some Opposition lawmakers during the tabling ofBudget 2017 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Pandikar said he was stressed when the MPs exited the Dewan.

“I was stressed because it was as if I was the one who ordered you out.

“Don’t play games with me. You play games among yourselves but not with me,” he said.

ANN

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Contributer : Malaysia Chronicle http://ift.tt/2dOu8wE