KUALA LUMPUR: Members of parliament (MP) suspended from the Dewan Rakyat, are allowed to hold press conferences in the Parliament’s media room, says Deputy Speaker Alice Lau.
This is despite being prohibited from the chamber and the public gallery within the chamber, according to the Lanang MP.
“It is okay for suspended MPs to hold press conferences at the Parliament (media room),” she told The Star.
She was responding to queries on whether Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who is currently suspended for six months, could continue to hold press conferences in Parliament.
Despite his suspension, Wan Ahmad Fayshal continued to hold press conferences at the Parliament’s media room.
On Oct 28, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul made a ruling that any MP who has been ordered to leave the Dewan Rakyat must not only leave the chamber but is also prohibited from being in the public gallery within the chamber.
This clarification came following concerns raised by Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) who argued that the Machang MP, although suspended, should be allowed to sit in the public gallery.
On July 18, Wan Ahmad Fayshal was slapped with a six-month suspension from the Dewan Rakyat.
This came after the House passed a motion to suspend the Machang MP via a bloc vote.
The suspension means that Wan Ahmad Fayshal will not only miss Dewan Rakyat proceedings but also be unable to attend Parliamentary Special Select Committee meetings.
The Bersatu Youth Chief was suspended for referencing a poison pen letter when debating the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) 2021 report on July 1.
