KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's name was again mentioned in the Dewan Rakyat following permission given to him to travel to Singapore.
R.S.N Rayer (PH-DAP-Jelutong) said Najib, who has RM1.69 billion tax arrears, should be prohibited to travel abroad as per the procedure under the Inland Revenue Board.
Finance Minister Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz who was wrapping-up the 2022 Budget debate in the committee stage, briefly addressed the query, saying "it was the court's decision".
Rayer however refused to let up, saying tax defaulters have been banned from leaving the country and asked the reason for the exemption in Najib's case.
"The issue here is, why Pekan (Najib), who has tax arrears, is allowed to travel to Singapore? The court returning his passport is not the issue.
"Is Pekan planning something with Bera (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob)?" said Rayer.
Several members of parliament then protested Rayer's conduct, saying that they were still waiting for clarification from Tengku Zafrul on various matters including allocations for Sabah and Sarawak, and that the latter was pressed for time.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon then gave an ultimatum – for Rayer to stop pressing the matter or leave the chamber.
"I ask Jelutong to step outside for 20 minutes. (This is an) interruption."
According to the Dewan Rakyat Standing Order 37(2), the Chair may disallow any member from seeking clarification if it appears that the House does not have adequate time to dispose of its business or if the chair believes that the intention of the member seeking clarification is simply to interrupt the member making the speech.
The Court of Appeal had on Oct 18 given Najib temporary access to his passport for him to travel to Singapore to visit his daughter Nooryana Najwa, who is due to deliver her second child.