KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat speaker acted within his authority in barring a suspended lawmaker from sitting in the public gallery, the house was told today.
Deputy Speaker Ramli Mohd Nor said Standing Order 44 (5) prevented a suspended member from participating in debates, but the rule did not mention restrictions with regard to the public gallery.
"(However,) if I refer to the letter issued by the speaker (to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, PN-Machang), it limits and defines the area.
"I believe Beluran (MP Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee) would agree with me that the authority for this decision rests with the speaker and I cannot elaborate," said Ramli.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) had earlier asked Ramli about the specifics of the letter.
Wan Fayhsal had been suspended for six months from the house on July 18 over allegations he made concerning Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's privatisation.
"On Oct 15, Wan Fayhsal received a letter from the speaker (Tan Sri Johari Abdul) stating that he was not allowed in the public gallery during his suspension," said Takiyuddin.
"Paragraph three reads, 'In relation to this, you are not permitted to be present in the lower house, including the public gallery and the officers' area. However, you may remain within the premises of the Malaysian Parliament complex and follow the proceedings of the lower house via the live broadcast'.
"Based on the standing order I just referred to, a member who is suspended must leave the meeting, and Machang (Wan Fayhsal) did leave on July 18 when he was suspended.
"He came to the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 14 and sat in the public gallery, a place where anyone, even from remote areas, can come.
"However, the speaker stated that Machang (MP) could not sit in the public gallery," said Takiyuddin.
He questioned whether the letter was a government tactic to undermine the role of the opposition.
"I ask that you (Ramli), as the (presiding) speaker today, give a decision on whether this is an interpretation by the speaker (Johari), or if it is something that is written in the book," said the Perikatan Nasional chief whip.
Following Ramli's reply, Takiyuddin requested that his enquiry be put on record so that it could be raised when Johari presided over the house.
"For the record, I permit this matter to be raised when the speaker of the house is present," said Ramli.