'It was as if I'm invisible': Ronald Kiandee criticises Deputy Speaker

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition MP Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee criticised the Deputy Speaker for depriving him of his right to invoke a Standing Order during the Dewan Rakyat session.

The Beluran MP said that he had stood up earlier to trigger Standing Orders 54 (1) and (2) to call for the Jurisdiction Immunities For Foreign State Bill 2023 to be committed to a Select Committee before it was passed.

“I stood up before the voice vote but I was not given a chance by the Speaker.

“It is fine if my motion was rejected but you can’t deprive me of my rights (to invoke) the Standing Order,” he told Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Nor.

Earlier, amid the ruckus before the passing of the Bill, Kiandee stood up to invoke the Standing Order before Deputy Speaker Alice Lau.

“(It was) As if I’m invisible,” Kiandee added, who is also a former speaker.

The Opposition argued the Bill should be brought to a Select Committee for further deliberation saying that it has vested excessive powers to the Prime Minister, as stipulated in Clause 30, 32 and 33 of the proposed Act.

Ramli explained that the situation took place before he took over the session from Lau, hence, advised Kiandee to submit a motion under Standing Orders 43, 99, 99A, and 100.

“The decision has already been made by the Speaker before me. The remedy to all of this, let us be candid about it and according to the rules, it is advisable that Your Honourable (Kiandee) submit a motion,” he said.