Committee to call Karpal, Umno youth men and witnesses

(The Star) DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Selangor Umno Youth members and eyewitnesses who saw the commotion at Parliament entrance on Thursday will be called to testify before the eight-man investigation committee set up in the Dewan Rakyat.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said it was the first time that the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act is being invoked to set up an investigative committee for parliamentary contempt. Pandikar Amin said this had never happened before and veteran MP Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur) concurred.

“It is a new experience for all of us,” Lim said.

However, Kit Siang and Karpal Singh said they would not be taking part.

Karpal Singh said referring his complaint to the committee was not the right thing to do because it should be handled under Section 11 of the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.

“I am not lodging a report with the committee because the Parliament should protect me,” he said.

Karpal Singh (DAP – Gelugor) was responding on the setting up of the committee to investigate into the incident when Umno Youth members confronted him, demanding that he retract the word celaka used against them.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz tabled a motion under Standing Order 80A on Thursday night, saying that the eight-man investigation committee chaired by Pandikar would take appropriate action against those committing contempt against the House.

Earlier that day, Karpal Singh proposed in the Dewan that the House issue a warrant of arrest against Serdang Umno Youth chief Ungku Mat Salleh and Gombak Umno Youth chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin to be brought before the House to explain why they should not be imprisoned under the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act.

Lim said the administration and security of Parliament were fully aware of the criminal intent of the Selangor Umno Youth mob but they did not lift a finger to protect the MPs in the parliamentary precincts.

“For this reason, I will not take part in the proceedings of the Committee of Privileges,” Lim said in his blog.

Lim has been named a member of the Committee.