The Dewan Rakyat Speaker has no authority to act against Members of Parliament who allegedly flout orders issued by the Health Ministry and National Security Council (NSC) with regard to Covid-19.
Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun said this when several government backbenchers rose and demanded that the Dewan Rakyat issue a declaration against P Prabakaran (Pakatan Harapan–Batu).
They claimed Prabakaran had flouted the House Surveillance Order (HSO) when he attended the Dewan Rakyat sitting last Thursday.
“I, together with the sergeant-of-arms did not realise the matter. Only after the proceedings on Thursday, did we realise that he had (attended the proceedings and) voted during the sitting.
“As I had said previously, the authority to take action or issue a compound against any MP who flouts instructions issued by the Health Ministry or the NSC does not come under my jurisdiction.
“Any person who wants to raise the matter further can lodge a report with the respective authorities,” he said.
Before the commencement of the Ministerial Question Time today, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Barisan Nasional–Putrajaya) stood and said Prabakaran, who came into contact with a Covid-19 patient, had attended and participated in the debate related to the allocation proposed for the Communications and Multimedia Ministry under the 2021 Budget.
“Hence, I seek guidance from the speaker on this,” he said.
Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr R Santhara Kumar (BN–Segamat) later added that Prabakaran had attended the sitting, although he was issued with an HSO.
“I had learnt that the HSO was issued to him before 11am last Thursday after his brother or relative tested positive for the virus.
“He, however, attended the proceeding, took part in the debate as well as voted on that day. If he was absent (for complying with the HSO), there must be someone who had voted for him. I hope the Speaker inspects all the documents (records of the sitting).
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (BN–Arau) and Tan Sri Noh Omar (BN–Tanjung Karang) urged the Speaker to refer Prabakaran to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee.
“MPs have immunity when they are in Parliament. This means no authority can take action against us unless Parliament does so,” said Noh.
In Prabakaran’s defence, former Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye (PH–Gopeng) said a person is not automatically a close contact after his or her relative tests positive for Covid-19.
“Not all family members have to observe home quarantine or be considered a close contact. If his brother tested positive for the virus, that does not necessarily mean (Prabakaran) is a close contact,” said Dr Lee. – NST