Speaker dismisses Anwar's motion to debate Pandora Papers

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun has rejected a motion proposed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to debate the Pandora Papers as being not urgent.

Although admitting that the expose, which revealed the offshore accounts involving former and current government and political leaders, was an important matter and of public interest, he argued that it could be discussed in other platforms such as the Parliamentary Select Committee.

"I agree that it is an important matter and it must be investigated.

"However, the problem is, I do not think that it is an urgent matter," he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 6).

Anwar had earlier said there was no action taken by Bank Negara or the government to probe what was described as a "tax evasion scandal".

"I believe that this should be debated and I stress that it is not to punish anyone named in the report.

"I have not only mentioned those from Umno but also MPs from Pakatan Harapan so that they can give their explanation.

"If millions of ringgit are hidden at a tax haven and we are keeping quiet, we will be embarrassed as MPs," added the Opposition Leader and Port Dickson MP.