No need to shout, says Maximus
Published on: Friday, July 22, 2022
By: Bernama
Max (left) said the Speaker (right) also made a point that there was no need to debate in Parliament on the legal action filed by the Sulu Group at the Paris Arbitration Court in France as it would be sub judice.
Kota Kinabalu: The ruling made by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun to reject the motion to debate the Sulu Group’s claims over Sabah and the seizure of Petronas’ assets must be respected, says Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.While stressing that there are laws in Parliament, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said there was no point for the opposition to shout at the top of their voice just to get public attention since the Speaker had already made the ruling.
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He said the Speaker also made a point that there was no need to debate in Parliament on the legal action filed by the Sulu Group at the Paris Arbitration Court in France as it would be sub judice.
“Of course, we are all concerned about the case and its impact on the security of Sabah.
“The Speaker, as usual, was guided by the in-depth analysis on the relevant Standing Orders and with reference to the legal advice of the best legal brains of the Parliament,” he said in a statement, Thursday.
On day, Azhar said a debate on the Sulu Group’s claims on Sabah at the Dewan Rakyat may jeopardise Malaysia’s interest in the litigation proceedings of the case.
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In fact, the Speaker stressed that the debate may also reveal the Government’s strategies in handling the case, hence giving an advantage to the other party involved.
Ongklili added that the Federal Government has set up a task force, led by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and a panel of top lawyers, including the Attorney-General regarding the matter.
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He said the task force will monitor the progress of the legal action taken by the Sulu Group in France, as well as advise the Federal Government in terms of strategies pertaining to the protection of Malaysia’s assets overseas.
“As responsible MPs, I believe it is important that our actions must be guided to the bylaws of Parliament and national security priorities,” he said.
On Monday, a ruckus broke out during the Parliament sitting after motions to debate the Sulu heirs claims were rejected by Azhar, which led him to leave his seat, while Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis was issued a two-day suspension by Deputy Speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon for ignoring the Speaker’s instructions and warnings.
Meanwhile, several opposition MPs claimed Thursday that the Government will give a closed-door briefing to parliamentarians Thursday night on the claims by the apparent heirs to the Sulu sultanate.
Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching and Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin from DAP told the media that an invitation labelled “Confidential” had instructed them to gather at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur for the briefing by three ministers.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), all opposition and independent MPs received a invitation from the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. I can’t copy and share it with the media.
“I don’t know how an invitation can be confidential. It invited me to a closed-door briefing Thursday night at the Seri Pacific Hotel, during which three Ministers will explain the issue of the claim by the heirs to the Sulu sultanate,” Teo told a press conference at Parliament, Thursday.
She explained that her party was asked to attend and that a question-and-answer session would also be held.
“We have a question-and-answer session but this is a closed-door briefing,” she added.
The three Ministers are Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Legal Affairs) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tunku Jaafar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economic Affairs) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
Meanwhile, Chan said he still wanted the matter to be brought to Parliament for debate.
“As a Sabahan, it is important for the matter to be heard by all,” he said.
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