Decision on Tian Chua's seat next week
Joseph SipalanPublished: Jun 21, 2011 1:14 PM | Updated: Jun 21, 2011 1:38 PM
A decision will be made on Batu MP Tian Chua’s status in Parliament next week, said speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.
A decision will be made on Batu MP Tian Chua’s status in Parliament next week, said speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.
Pandikar (left in photo) said his office has contacted the Attorney-General’s (AG’s) Chambers for advice on the implications of Chua’s (right in photo) conviction and RM2,000 fine imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court, for obstructing a police constable from conducting his duties.
The speaker was responding to a question from Ibrahim Ali (Ind-Pasir Mas) in the House today.
Ibrahim had submitted a letter to the speaker’s office for clarification of Chua’s status as a MP after the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling.
Ibrahim insisted that Chua should be dropped as MP as the federal constitution clearly states that a member of parliament can be disqualified if fined no less than RM2,000 by a court.
Pandikar acknowledged having received a letter from Ibrahim (right), and also a letter from Chua’s lawyer explaining their position on the court ruling.
He, however, refused to allow the debate to drag on, also stressing that he will not entertain any queries on this and any other issue outside the House.
“My mistake when I first took up this post was that I gave statements when asked about issues (outside the House). But I realised my role is like a judge, so please don’t ask me about these issues (outside), because I won’t make a statement,” said Pandikar.
“At this point, I am studying (the issue). I have read what the judge said in the High Court, and also the decision of the Court of Appeal. Parliament has officially contacted the AG’s Chambers to get their view. God willing, I will make a ruling on this issue next week.”
Opinions split
Chua’s conviction has split opinions over the interpretation of the constitutional provision governing the status of MPs convicted in a Malaysian court.
This was especially after High Court judge Justice Ghazali Cha reduced Chua’s initial fine from RM3,000 to RM2,000 so that by-election could be avoided.
The judge adopted a 1993 Supreme Court decision in Public Prosecutor vs Leong Yin Ming, that only a fine of RM2,001 or more would result in automatic disqualification.
DAP’s Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, a senior lawyer, had pointed out that there is a possibility Chua could lose his seat on the ground that a fine of RM2,000 provides for this.
Pandikar (left in photo) said his office has contacted the Attorney-General’s (AG’s) Chambers for advice on the implications of Chua’s (right in photo) conviction and RM2,000 fine imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court, for obstructing a police constable from conducting his duties. The speaker was responding to a question from Ibrahim Ali (Ind-Pasir Mas) in the House today.
Ibrahim had submitted a letter to the speaker’s office for clarification of Chua’s status as a MP after the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling.
Ibrahim insisted that Chua should be dropped as MP as the federal constitution clearly states that a member of parliament can be disqualified if fined no less than RM2,000 by a court.
Pandikar acknowledged having received a letter from Ibrahim (right), and also a letter from Chua’s lawyer explaining their position on the court ruling.He, however, refused to allow the debate to drag on, also stressing that he will not entertain any queries on this and any other issue outside the House.
“My mistake when I first took up this post was that I gave statements when asked about issues (outside the House). But I realised my role is like a judge, so please don’t ask me about these issues (outside), because I won’t make a statement,” said Pandikar.
“At this point, I am studying (the issue). I have read what the judge said in the High Court, and also the decision of the Court of Appeal. Parliament has officially contacted the AG’s Chambers to get their view. God willing, I will make a ruling on this issue next week.”
Opinions split
Chua’s conviction has split opinions over the interpretation of the constitutional provision governing the status of MPs convicted in a Malaysian court.
This was especially after High Court judge Justice Ghazali Cha reduced Chua’s initial fine from RM3,000 to RM2,000 so that by-election could be avoided.The judge adopted a 1993 Supreme Court decision in Public Prosecutor vs Leong Yin Ming, that only a fine of RM2,001 or more would result in automatic disqualification.
DAP’s Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, a senior lawyer, had pointed out that there is a possibility Chua could lose his seat on the ground that a fine of RM2,000 provides for this.
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