PAS lawmaker gets answers on missing microphone from suspended MP's table
NATION
Monday, 04 Nov 20191:14 PM MYT
By MARTIN CARVALHO, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM and And RAHIMY RAHIM
KUALA LUMPUR: Senior PAS lawmaker Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan wanted to know what happened to the missing microphone at Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman's (BN-Pasir Salak) table after Tajuddin was suspended for two days from the Dewan Rakyat.
He asked Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof to explain whether it is a new practice to remove the microphone of a suspended lawmaker.
"I would like to get an explanation whether there was an order from the Speaker and if this is a new practice of the new government.
"Under which standing order was this done," he said before the start of the winding-up session for ministries of the 2020 Supply Bill.
Mohamad Ariff confirmed he issued the order and said it was based on his discretion to protect the dignity of Parliament.
"That is my order and I can order for it to be replaced at any time.
"It need not be based on any written rules," he said.
Takiyuddin then stood up to interject, urging the Speaker to use his discretion judiciously.
"If everyone follows orders, I would not have to remove the microphone.
"If they do not follow the rules, I will have remove it, based on my discretion," Mohamad Ariff replied, adding that the rule applied to both side of the divide.
"Sometimes, the removing the microphone is needed," he said.
Last Thursday (Oct 31), a shouting match ensued in Parliament over the proposed sale of Kampung Baru land, which led to Tajuddin's suspension.
The incident happened when Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad was just about to begin winding up his ministerial replies on Budget 2020.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/11/04/pas-lawmaker-gets-answers-on-missing-microphone-from-suspended-mp039s-table#4tQE2uRsTgvqyGS5.99
