Parliament: Gobind suspended two days

KUALA LUMPUR: Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo was on Tuesday suspended two days from Parliament by Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. The suspension took place at noon Tuesday, when Gobind Singh stood up to support his father Karpal Singh’s (DAP - Gelugor) bid to cite Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz to the Committee of Privileges over his reply on the judiciary crisis of 1988.Gobind Singh shouted at Dr Wan Junaidi: “ The speaker defends the minister!”This remark prompted Dr Wan Junaidi to respond : “Puchong keluar(out).”Earlier, Dr Wan Junaidi had ruled that Nazri had no intention to mislead the House while giving his reply that the former Lord President and Supreme Court judges were not sacked but opted to retire early.Later at Parliament Lobby, however, Nazri told reporters that he had made a mistake and three of the judges were actually sacked but the Government had paid them pension on compassionate grounds. This has prompted Karpal Singh to ask for a ruling to refer Nazri to the Committee of Privileges for misleading the house.At 11.30am Dr Wan Junaidi ruled that Nazri had no intention to mislead the House and therefore there was no need for him to be referred to the Committee of Privileges. “There is no need for the minister to apologise. My decision is based on point of order. I do not want the Parliament of Malaysia to be made a mockery,”said Dr Wan Junaidi. To this, Karpal Singh said: “The Speaker’s decision has made a mockery of the House. Gobind Singh then stood up to defend his father and accused Dr Wan Junaidi of being biased towards the minister.“He is the one who made the mistake and I have to leave the house. How many days of susupension now?” he asked Dr Wan Junaidi. Refusing to leave the House despite Dr Wan Junaidi ordering the Seargeant-at-Arms to escort him out, Gobind Singh pointed at Nazri and said: “The No.1 coward is there. He should stand up to apologise like a man.’ At the Parliament lobby later, Gobind SIngh said: “ If Nazri is prepared to apologise outside the Dewan, why can’t he do so inside the House. “I am disappointed with the ruling made by the chair. I stand up for principles even if it means that I have to be thrown out of the Dewan. “It does not matter to me (on being suspended).”