Nurul Izzah: Anwar unlikely to get fair hearing in Parliament
(Free Malaysia Today) – Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar today reiterated the need for the parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee to respect democracy and adhere to convention.
She said it was vital that the committee practises the fullest standards of transparency and natural justice in the case involving Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
“At the very least, it is crucial that Anwar and his counsel be present during the investigation stage, including in the sessions involving Apco representatives to ensure they are not only being just, but also seen to do so,” she said in a statement today.
Nurul Izzah was responding to the committee’s decision to disallow legal representation for Anwar when he testifies.
The committee is chaired by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia with members comprising deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee, Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugur), Fong Chan Onn (BN-Alor Gajah), Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar), Nancy Shukri (BN-Batang Sadong) and R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang).
The committee today informed Anwar that he cannot be represented by his lawyer at the hearing. The decision was made after the committee members took a vote on the matter.
Karpal said his and Sivarasa’s votes for Anwar to have the right to legal representation were outweighed by the four BN MPs.
