KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul has lambasted a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leader today for questioning his role as the custodian of the Lower House.
This comes after Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Perikatan Nasional-Beluran) asked Johari to take off his 'political cap' in making a decision as the Speaker in the motion filed to suspend Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) for six months.
"Beluran, you are my friend and you have sat here before (as a deputy speaker).
"I have been a chief whip before and one of its duties is to advise our friends if they have crossed the lines.
"I waited from the first until the seventh (of the month) if Machang (Wan Fayhsal) wanted to apologise to me following your advice but you did not do it (ask him to apologise)," said Johari.
Johari also said he has been insulted many times this month alone including from PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin over his decision to not vacate the six seats of Bersatu's former members.
"I do not sit here as Johari Abdul, (but) I sit here as the Speaker and I absorb all of this.
"Even when the PN chairman (Muhyiddin) said the Speaker should be 'dicerca' (reviled), (he used) the word 'cerca' and that is very bad.
"What does that mean (to me) when you call everybody to 'cerca' me? However, it is too much when you insult other government officials and you know this better than me Beluran (Kiandee)."
Earlier, Kiandee said the motion to suspend Wan Fayhsal for six months should not proceed as it contravened the Standing Order 36(9).
Standing Order 36(9) stated there shall be no reference made in any debate to the conduct or character of any MP or civil servant, other than their conduct in the capacity of MP or civil servant.
He also said as part of the legislative branch, every motion filed by the executive branch must be properly scrutinised.
"We have three branches of government — the judiciary, the legislative and the executive. We are (in the) legislative (branch) and you are the custodian of this (House).
"If there is a motion from the executive (branch), you must scrutinise it carefully and send it back if it is defective.
"You must evaluate it because you are a fair Speaker and when you sit there, you need to take off your political cap (buka baju politik) as all actions and motions must be viewed through the lens of the Federal Constitution and the Standing Orders."