Kit Siang ordered out – but stays on

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang has been suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for six months after refusing to leave the august hall for interrupting the proceedings.

However, the suspension is only valid for this meeting as it will automatically expire once Parliament has been dissolved.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia instructed the Gelang Patah lawmaker to leave the House for refusing to sit and for interrupting despite numerous warnings.

Lim had demanded an explanation as to why the Election Commission’s redelineation report was embargoed after it was kept on the tables of the MPs last Thursday.

Pandikar Amin did not respond and said he would use his powers under Standing Order 44 (2).

Lim kept standing and persisted on seeking clarification on the matter.

Pandikar Amin then instructed the sergeant-at-arms to escort Lim out, but the latter refused to cooperate.

Instead, Lim sat down and merely smiled. Pandikar Amin then called for a recess.

After lunch break, Lim returned to the House and stayed on until the vote on the EC report was conducted at about 5.20pm.

However, with his suspension, his vote on the matter was not taken into account.

Earlier, when Lim was told to leave, a commotion ensued and words were exchanged between lawmakers from both sides of the divide.

Other Opposition lawmakers said it was the Speaker’s moral obligation to explain why the motion could go on despite pending court cases, which they claimed made it sub judice.

Pandikar Amin repeatedly told the lawmakers to sit down and that he would exercise his powers under Standing Order 44(3) and ask a minister to put in a motion to suspend Lim.

This created further commotion when several lawmakers cried foul, saying it was undemocratic.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said then moved a motion to suspend Lim for six months.

Lawmakers said the matter should be put to a debate instead of the arbitrary decision to suspend Lim.

That was when Pandikar Amin called for a temporary adjournment of the proceedings, saying he was saddened by what was happening and that “everything is politicised”.