No one above Parliament rules.
Action will be taken against former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak for breaking the Parliament embargo on the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) White Paper, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
According to Dr Mahathir, this was to ensure that Najib will not think that he is above Parliamentary rules.
“This is serious because he isn’t a novice elected representative, but a former prime minister.
“He has published a paper that was embargoed. We view this seriously and we will take action so he will be reminded that no one is above Parliamentary rules,” said Dr Mahathir to reporters during a press conference at Parliament on Wednesday (April 10).
Earlier, Economic Affairs minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali tabled the Felda White Paper in Parliament today.
Hours before the Felda White Paper was to be tabled, Najib highlighted a purchase agreement Felda had signed to buy a 37 per cent stake in Eagle High Plantations Tbk (EHP) through a social media post on his official Facebook page.
Najib defended the share purchase and slammed the Pakatan Harapan government of accusing him of cheating Felda to buy equity interest in EHP.
Azmin said he was aware that Najib had published a portion of the White Paper on his Facebook yesterday evening, even though it had been embargoed until this morning.
“How can a former prime minister commit such an offence? How can he publish a document yesterday evening, when it had been embargoed till this morning?
“So, early this morning, I have already brought forward a motion for stern action to be taken against Pekan. It is a big offence although it may be small to him,” he said during his winding-up speech of the White Paper today.
According to Standing Order 95A, leakage of such bills and papers, in whole or in part, before the stated date, is in contempt of the lower house.