Anwar fails in second bid to get Parliament to debate Pandora Papers

KUALA LUMPUR: There was a lively exchange over the Pandora Papers between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday. (Oct 11)

It started just before debates on a Covid-19 finance bill when the Opposition leader asked if Azhar would allow his motion to raise the Pandora Papers for debates in the House under Standing Order 90(1) and (2).

"While some (of those linked to the papers) have explained, the explanation should be done here.

"There should also be transparent investigations by the government," Anwar said.

Last week, Azhar rejected Anwar's earlier motion for the Pandora Papers to be debated on grounds of urgency and public interest under Standing Order 18.

Azhar noted that Anwar's present motion called for a suspension of House rules to allow debates on the issue.

"You have asked for the suspension of the House rules but did not specify which rules are to be suspended," he said.

He also told Anwar that he had read up on the Pandora Papers issue and there were differences in the claims made by the Opposition leader.

"It is not hundreds of billions being stashed away or outflow of money into offshore accounts.

"It is more of equity share holding in offshore companies," he said.

Anwar insisted that the issue be debated in Parliament and accused Azhar of defending the corrupt.

"Why are you being a lawyer for those parties?" Anwar asked.

He added that the issue was not only on the offshore accounts but where the money came from.

Azhar denied that he was playing defence lawyer for any party but merely "setting the record straight" with the Opposition leader.

He suggested that Anwar file a motion to review the decision.

The Pandora Papers are a data leak of some 2.94 terabytes of data, including among others, the opening of offshore accounts involving former and current government and political leaders around the world.