Telling it like it is: Johari asserting that, come what may, he is here to protect the House, at the Parliament Building. — Bernama
DEWAN Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul has issued this message to lawmakers: “Come what may, I shall protect this House.”
“Whatever you say here, do not insult the Speaker. Johari Abdul is a different thing altogether,” he said, adding that he did not care about what others say of him.
“I do not mind if it is (about) Johari Abdul. But while I sit here, I sit as a Speaker and I have to protect this House.
“That is my mission and that was the oath I have taken,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He was responding to several lawmakers who demanded his explanation for Pendang MP Datuk Awang Solahuddin Hashim’s 10-day suspension starting Dec 5 for insulting the Speaker.
Johari explained that despite being given several chances on different occasions to apologise, Awang did not do so.
Johari said he had written a letter to Awang, asking him to apologise instead of being referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee.
He had even sent an emissary to meet him but Awang was not present.
Earlier, Opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) said the Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Order was not applicable outside of the House even if it involved MPs.
Citing Standing Orders 44(2) which involves decorum in the House, Takiyuddin said Johari’s ruling to slap Awang for what was said outside of the House was “unconstitutional”.
Takiyuddin also cited several previous incidents involving Speakers and lawmakers.
Several Opposition MPs, including Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) and Opposition chief Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut), also spoke about the decision.
Hamzah said the ruling was “lame” and should not be made into a convention.
“There is always a remedy. We can always make a police report or initiate civil action if it involves a non-MP. And the same goes for an MP who had done it outside of the House, we can file a motion or take civil action,” he said.
At a press conference later, Perikatan Nasional leaders said Johari had overstepped his authority.Takiyuddin said the Speaker only had authority over proceedings inside the Dewan Rakyat and not outside.
“Outside the House, there are other laws where the authorities can investigate but here, it is the Standing Order,” he said.
Takiyuddin also referred to Johari’s statement last year saying he is open to criticism as long as it is done outside the House, following criticism by Hamzah.
He also labelled Johari as the “government’s speaker and not the Dewan Rakyat”.
Kiandee argued that the Speaker had used the Standing Order incorrectly when deciding to suspend Awang.
“In Pendang’s case, it happened outside the House but the Speaker used the Standing Order which is meant for something that happened inside the House.
“The Speaker’s actions were outside of his boundaries,” he said.
