Lawmakers get dressing-down by Pandikar

KUALA LUMPUR: Lawmakers were given a dressing-down by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia over their move to challenge his ruling.

"When I make a favourable ruling, all are happy but if it is not in their favour, they will rush outside and hold a press conference to question my ruling and challenge me to resign," he told lawmakers in the House on Thursday (March 8).

He cited the recent example where V. Sivakumar (DAP-Batu Gajah) and several other lawmakers had called for his resignation after their motions were rejected.

An irate Pandikar reminded MPs on the Dewan's Standing Order, adding that he had absolute discretion in allowing or rejecting a motion calling for an urgent debate.

"If an MP receives a written ruling from me and continues to stand up to protest, I will not hesitate to take action," he said.

Pandikar's stern warning came after Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang) stood up to seek clarification on why his motion to debate on the United Nations Children's Fund's (Unicef) report on malnourished children among the urban poor was rejected.

Pandikar told Santiago to sit down and said that the Speaker had the right to reject a motion if it was to insult, cast aspirations or based on personal opinion.

He noted that if MPs were unhappy with his ruling, they could challenge it on substantive grounds by way of a motion with two days written notice.

Several MPs rose to seek further clarification including Hanipa Maidin (Amanah-Sepang) who asked what would happen if it was Pandikar who was in contempt of Parliament.

Pandikar warned Hanipa that he would be booted out of the Dewan if he refused to sit down and be quiet.

Later at a press conference, Santiago said he will formally challenge Pandikar's ruling by way of a motion and added that he was saddened that his motion to debate urban poverty affecting children was rejected.

At a separate press conference, Barisan Nasional Back Benchers Club chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad called for Sivakumar, Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP-Beruas) and Nga Kor Ming (Taiping) to be cited for contempt of the House.

He said the three MPs had accused Pandikar of colluding to cover the alleged corruption scandal by rejecting their motions to debate the recent seizure of a super yacht in Indonesia.

He added the trio had even challenged Pandikar to resign as Speaker.