Motion to return MP privileges for Gobind rejected

The motion to set aside the decision to withhold Puchong DAP MP Gobind Singh Deo's allowance and perks following his suspension from Parliament was rejected in chambers today.

According to Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, the motion filed by Bandar Kuching DAP MP Chong Chieng Jen was rejected because Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz had already explained the reason when he brought the motion to suspend Gobind to Parliament on March 16.

However, Chong said: “It was an unlawful decision because the day Gobind was suspended he was not even given a chance to defend himself.”

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament, the MP said he had filed the motion in good faith to “salvage the House from proceedings that were unlawful.”

“It is regrettable that the speaker does not share our view and allow the motion to at least be read in the House,” he added.

Gobind was suspended and stripped of his MP privileges after he stirred a commotion in the House by implicating Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu during the debate on the second stimulus package.

Chong then filed the motion under Standing Orders 18(1) last week claiming that the motion which was passed to suspend Gobind while withdrawing his allowance and perks was illegal and wrong.

He told reporters that the grounds of his emergency motion was based on the Members of Parliament Act (Remuneration) 1980, which provides that parliamentarians are entitled to their allowance and perks as instructed by the King.

Legal action?

Meanwhile, fellow DAP MP (Ipoh Barat) M Kulasegaran said there should have been a proper inquiry by the committee of privileges.

He said the Malaysian parliament had become a “laughing stock” because the accused was not given a chance to rebut the charges.

Asked if legal action could be taken, he replied: “This (the emergency motion) is as far as we can do... whether to take legal action, it is entirely up to Gobind.”

He added that there were other factors such as duration and cost to take into consideration before pursuing a judicial review on the decision of the House.

“Nevertheless, if I was Gobind I will take the necessary action,” said Chong, adding that it was because Gobind's entitlement which is accorded to him by law was taken away.

“We maintain the service centre using our monthly salary and allowance and he still has to perform his duties as MP to maintain his service centre... taking away (the perks) interferes with his task as a MP,” he said.

Gobind could not be reached for comments.

Also present at the press conference were DAP parliamentarians Fong Po Kuan (Batu Gajah), Sim Tong Him (Kota Melaka) and Lim Lip Eng (Segambut).