Speaker rejects Bersatu MP’s motion on Zahid’s discharge from graft charges
Published on: Monday, September 11, 2023
By:
FMT, Lynelle Tham, Dineskumar Ragu
Speaker Johari Abdul says he will give Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal the opportunity to debate the matter after the prime minister tables the 12th Malaysia Plan’s mid-term review. (Bernama pic)
Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul has rejected the emergency motion filed by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) to debate the conditional discharge Ahmad Zahid Hamidi received in his graft case.
The Bersatu MP had previously said that he had filed the emergency motion on Sept 7, requesting that Zahid’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) be debated in the lower house today.
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Johari confirmed the motion’s rejection after being pressed by opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut), Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) and Wan Fayhsal to confirm whether the motion will be debated in the lower house or not.
Despite the rejection, Johari said he will give Wan Fayhsal the opportunity to debate the matter after the prime minister tables the 12th Malaysia Plan’s mid-term review.
Johari also dismissed Takiyuddin’s accusations that his decision to reject the motion was influenced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s stance on the matter.
Anwar had on Friday said that Parliament was no place to debate Zahid’s DNAA.
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Takiyuddin reiterated his criticism that the prime minister had exceeded his powers by refusing to allow a debate in the Dewan Rakyat, as the power solely lies with the Speaker.
Responding to Takiyuddin’s accusation, Johari said that the prime minister made such a statement outside Parliament, hence it was beyond his jurisdiction.
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“He (Anwar) does not make the decision on my behalf. But I will give (the) Machang (MP) the opportunity (to debate the DNAA matter) later.”
Takiyuddin’s claim drew brickbats from government MPs, with RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) calling upon the PN chief whip to retract his claim as he violated the Standing Orders.
“Kota Bharu (Takiyuddin) has repeatedly accused the Speaker of being in cahoots with the prime minister. This is a serious accusation and I called upon him to apologise and retract the statement,” he said.
Last Monday, Zahid was granted the DNAA on all 47 charges involving corruption, criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering.
He had been accused of embezzling millions of ringgit from his foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi, and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister between 2013 and 2018.
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