KUALA LUMPUR: Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil took a jab at Perikatan Nasional (PN) and advised the coalition leaders to read the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders before accusing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of power abuse.
This is following PN chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan's statement that Anwar had abused his power and broke the law for refusing to debate the High Court's decision on Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's Yayasan Akal Budi corruption case in the parliament.
Fahmi, who is also the unity government's spokesman, said the opposition party might not be used to hearing statements made by Anwar, who is also the Leader of the House, as they have habitually skipped out on Dewan Rakyat sittings.
"I think PN had skipped out on too many Parliamentary sessions that they had forgotten the rules. Usually, government affairs are prioritised and it's up to the speaker to decide on anything.
"Maybe they are not used to statements made by the head of parliament, who is also the prime minister.
"So I advise them to read the rule books, especially the opposition leader and the top leaders in PN," he said after the Lembah Pantai PKR annual general meeting, here, today.
He also called for PN leaders to attend parliamentary sessions to debate on issues they would like to bring up.
On Friday, Anwar said the Parliament sitting cannot be transformed into a courtroom to discuss the decision made by Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah regarding Zahid.
He said the government has no objection to any member of Parliament asking about the case during the normal Dewan Rakyat sessions, but the Parliament sitting should not be turned into a courtroom.
Earlier today, Takiyuddin said Anwar does not have any authority or right to determine or decide based on the standing order if there is a motion submitted to debate the matter.
He said the acceptance or rejection of such a motion is within the jurisdiction and discretion of the speaker.