Pandikar threatens to quit if Pua-Arul debate goes on
BY AKIL YUNUS
THE STAR
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has threatened to step down as Parliament Speaker if the proposed Tony Pua and Arul Kanda Kandasamy debate on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)
went on.
Pandikar had said that the proposed debate could only proceed if both individuals excuse themselves from the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigations into 1MDB.
Responding to a question from Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) on whether he held discussions with the Government before reaching his decision, Pandikar said he was merely fulfilling his role as Speaker, which was to determine if parliamentary rules were being followed.
“If the Government has a different agenda, then it is their own agenda. If they wish to continue with the debate, I will not involve myself in the matter and will step down as Speaker,” said Pandikar on Tuesday.Loke had earlier accused Barisan Nasional MPs of shadow-playing by agreeing to the debate only because they were aware that the Speaker would eventually prohibit it from happening.
Pua-Arul debate only if conditions met
BY AKIL YUNUS
THE STAR
KUALA LUMPUR: The debate between Tony Pua and Arul Kanda Kandasamy can only proceed if both individuals excuse themselves from the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), says Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia (pic).
The Parliament Speaker said that Pua, who is Petaling Jaya Utara MP, must either relinquish his post in the PAC or excuse himself from any further involvement in its 1MDB probe if he intends to take on Arul in a debate.
Pandikar also ruled that Arul could no longer be a witness in PAC investigations if he intended to go ahead with the debate.
"I do not object their intention to debate, provided they meet the conditions I have stated," he told lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
Pandikar said that the planned live debate would be a breach of Parliamentary Standing Orders involving ongoing investigations under a select committee.
"Pua's statements during the debate will include matters which have been discussed during PAC meetings.
"Any statements uttered before a select committee is subject to Standing Order 85, which prohibits its publication and dissemination by any member or anyone else until the committee has presented its findings to Parliament," Pandikar said.
He said the debate, which would also involve questions and answers from both sides, was a breach of Parliamentary Standing Order 21(1)(e), which states that an inquiry cannot touch on committee proceedings that have not been presented to Parliament.
"Considering that the issues which Pua and Arul wish to debate are still the subject of PAC's investigations, any statements or remarks they make during the debate can be considered premature," Pandikar said.
He added that a live telecast of the debate would disrupt the PAC proceedings and create prejudice among the public towards those involved in the 1MDB probe.
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has threatened to step down as Parliament Speaker if the proposed Tony Pua and Arul Kanda Kandasamy debate on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)
went on.
Pandikar had said that the proposed debate could only proceed if both individuals excuse themselves from the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigations into 1MDB.
Responding to a question from Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) on whether he held discussions with the Government before reaching his decision, Pandikar said he was merely fulfilling his role as Speaker, which was to determine if parliamentary rules were being followed.
“If the Government has a different agenda, then it is their own agenda. If they wish to continue with the debate, I will not involve myself in the matter and will step down as Speaker,” said Pandikar on Tuesday.Loke had earlier accused Barisan Nasional MPs of shadow-playing by agreeing to the debate only because they were aware that the Speaker would eventually prohibit it from happening.
Pua-Arul debate only if conditions met
BY AKIL YUNUS
THE STAR
KUALA LUMPUR: The debate between Tony Pua and Arul Kanda Kandasamy can only proceed if both individuals excuse themselves from the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), says Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia (pic).
The Parliament Speaker said that Pua, who is Petaling Jaya Utara MP, must either relinquish his post in the PAC or excuse himself from any further involvement in its 1MDB probe if he intends to take on Arul in a debate.
Pandikar also ruled that Arul could no longer be a witness in PAC investigations if he intended to go ahead with the debate.
"I do not object their intention to debate, provided they meet the conditions I have stated," he told lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
Pandikar said that the planned live debate would be a breach of Parliamentary Standing Orders involving ongoing investigations under a select committee.
"Pua's statements during the debate will include matters which have been discussed during PAC meetings.
"Any statements uttered before a select committee is subject to Standing Order 85, which prohibits its publication and dissemination by any member or anyone else until the committee has presented its findings to Parliament," Pandikar said.
He said the debate, which would also involve questions and answers from both sides, was a breach of Parliamentary Standing Order 21(1)(e), which states that an inquiry cannot touch on committee proceedings that have not been presented to Parliament.
"Considering that the issues which Pua and Arul wish to debate are still the subject of PAC's investigations, any statements or remarks they make during the debate can be considered premature," Pandikar said.
He added that a live telecast of the debate would disrupt the PAC proceedings and create prejudice among the public towards those involved in the 1MDB probe.
