KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has decided that the motion to suspend opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan from Parliament will be referred to the Parliamentary Committee of Rights and Privileges for further examination.
In a statement today, Law and Institutional Reforms Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the decision was made in line with the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders.
“This decision was made after taking into account the views raised during the debate and to ensure that the MP is also given the opportunity to be heard by the Rights and Privileges Committee, as well as to allow the committee — which has a specific mandate under the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders — to make any findings it deems necessary,” the statement read.
Azalina said the motion tabled in the Dewan Rakyat would be adjusted to allow the matter to be formally referred to the committee for consideration according to the prescribed procedures.
Yesterday, Parliament was told that the motion to suspend Takiyuddin, who is also the Kota Baru member of Parliament, for six months over remarks relating to a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) training exercise had been postponed.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah announced this while wrapping up his speech during the tabling of the motion.
The motion, which he had tabled, was initially expected to be put to a bloc vote.
Following his announcement, sighs of relief and murmurs of “thank you” were heard from the opposition bloc.
Takiyuddin also stood to thank Shamsul and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul for the decision.
On Oct 22, Takiyuddin claimed that between 10 and 15 people entered a mosque without permission, wore shoes, went into the women’s prayer area and conducted a search while identifying themselves as police officers.
MMEA director-general Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah denied the claim, clarifying that the trainees had merely stopped to perform prayers at Masjid Rusila, Marang, before proceeding to their next assignment on Sept 19.
On Oct 27, the government backbenchers filed a motion to refer Takiyuddin to the Parliamentary Rights and Freedom Committee.
Kampung Memali in Baling, Kedah, was the scene of bloodshed on Nov 19, 1985, when villagers resisted police attempts to arrest religious teacher Ibrahim Mahmud, popularly known as Ibrahim Libya, under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for alleged deviant teachings, an allegation rejected by Pas.
Eighteen people, including four policemen, were killed and more than 100 others were injured in the clash.
According to the Dewan Rakyat’s Order Paper, Takiyuddin’s speech had tarnished the image of the MMEA, and that personnel alleged to have been involved may have been unfairly maligned as a result of these baseless accusations.
“The allegations amounted to conduct that appears to undermine the dignity of MMEA personnel, who have worked tirelessly to safeguard Malaysia’s vast maritime domain from various threats, including arms smuggling, illegal fishing, encroachment by foreign vessels, drugs, piracy and other dangers,” the paper read.
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